Introduction

'How's it going?' That’s what the old New York Mayor Ed Koch would ask folks as he roamed around the city. And you know what? If we were to shoot that question at President Trump today, a lot of people would say he’s not doing too shabby.

Trump's Approval Ratings

Trump’s approval ratings, which took a bit of a nosedive when he slapped those 'Liberation Day' tariffs on everyone last April, have made a comeback and are now floating just under the 50% mark. That’s pretty much on par with where Obama and Bush were during their second terms and better than Trump’s own numbers during his first go-around.

Unconventional Choices

Now, some folks might raise an eyebrow at some of his top picks for jobs—yeah, they're a bit out there. And let’s not even start on his preference for caps lock—that’s a presidential style we haven’t seen before. But hey, in a democratic system that's leaning more and more towards the voice of the people, what feels a bit rough and ready to some is just fine for others.

Shaking Things Up

Then there’s his knack for picking unconventional people for big roles—it seems that Trump is more about shaking things up than just tweaking stuff. Like, for his 2024 campaign, he’s promised to beef up military recruitment, blaming those shortfalls on the 'woke' policies at Biden’s Pentagon. And guess what? He’s not just talking the talk; recruitment numbers are actually up.

Strategic Appointments

He even tagged Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and military vet, as his pick for secretary of defense. Trump’s betting that a strong military vibe is going to draw in young folks who aren’t too keen on the whole 'woke' scene. And would you believe it, the Army’s already smashed its recruitment target, months ahead of schedule. Coincidence? Maybe, but Trump’s words seem to be working some kind of magic.

Trade and Economic Impact

And on the trade front, Trump’s never hidden his love for tariffs, especially when it comes to China. Looks like his tough talk is having an impact—an article in The Wall Street Journal just pointed out a significant drop in Chinese exports to the U.S. this May, the lowest since the pandemic hit hard in early 2020. Seems like traders are adjusting their strategies in response to Trump’s game plan.

Job Market Dynamics

Even in the jobs market, things are looking up. Despite federal jobs dropping by 60,000 since January, overall job numbers in May were higher than expected. It’s been a different story for foreign-born workers though, with a huge drop in their numbers since March. And here’s something to chew on—those figures are way higher than the deportations we’ve seen in recent years.

Immigration Policies and Public Opinion

Let’s not forget the drama in L.A. last week. Trump’s been busy with deportations and raids, and it’s got a lot of people thinking about heading back voluntarily, what Mitt Romney back in 2012 called ‘self-deportation’. Maybe it’s thanks to the heavy actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which even led to the arrest of a major union head. The whole sanctuary city debate heated up when Trump sent in the National Guard to L.A. after local authorities let things get out of hand. The Supreme Court’s already said federal rules trump state ones, so he had the green light all along.

Conclusion

And the public? Well, most seem to be on Trump’s side, especially when it comes to handling immigration. Despite Democrat claims and some media assurance that everything’s peachy, the general vibe is that Dems might not have a solid grip on immigration issues. So, wrapping up, how’s Trump doing? Well, judging from all the hubbub and the numbers, he might be doing a bit better than some of his naysayers would like to admit.