The Challenges of Keeping Pace with the President

For those of us fortunate enough to serve in the Trump administration, there’s one common struggle: keeping up with the president himself.

In areas like national security, international diplomacy, trade, and domestic policy, the speed at which he operates seems almost superhuman. Just think about it—Operation Midnight Hammer, which delved deep into Iran, the bold move to arrest and remove President Maduro, and the eight peace agreements he’s brokered to settle long-standing conflicts that many thought were impossible to resolve. Not to mention the sweeping tariffs aimed at transforming global trade favorably for the U.S. and Americans for years to come, and the rapid closure of borders leading to the deportation of nearly 2 million illegal immigrants within a year. The strategy and pace? Well, it all stems from the man behind the desk, whose agility, speed, and relentless sense of purpose remain unmatched.

So, what’s his secret? Part of it can be attributed to the president himself and the unique familial and genetic traits he possesses. I’ve known him for over a decade—first as an advisor during the 2015 Republican primaries, then on his official transition team, and now on the National Security Council during his second term. In all that time, whether at Trump Tower, Mar-a-Lago, or the White House, I’ve never seen him falter or ask for a moment to catch his breath. He’s simply indomitable. Yet there’s another aspect to his remarkable speed and achievements.

As our UN Ambassador, Mike Walz, told the senior members of the National Security Council shortly after the inauguration, “Outsiders think the president has just been playing golf for the past four years. But he hasn’t. He’s been preparing for a second term, and we’re now in the ninth year of his presidency.” He couldn’t have been more right.

Appreciating the dedicated MAGA members from his first White House and the institutional roles many have taken on in 2020 and beyond is crucial. The president, a genuine thinker in the MAGA movement, had everything lined up for the moment when the American people would reclaim the presidency decisively. Even before he returned to the Oval Office—on that frigid day of his second inauguration when it had to be held indoors—there he was at the D.C. Arena, thanking his supporters. His team went so far as to set up a table for him onstage to sign an executive order right then and there. Back in the West Wing, orders were prepped weeks, months, and sometimes years in advance, outlining the policies and actions expected in the upcoming year.

In response to some misguided comments from supposed “experts” about President Trump’s unpredictability, his presidential decree regarding cartel designation demonstrates how entirely predictable he really is—and where his geographic focus lies.

The Commander-in-Chief’s approach is straightforward. If the policies and actions benefit America and its people, they’ll be implemented; if not, they’ll be discarded. He, fully aware of real-world geography, knows that protecting the homeland hinges on the nations closest to us. It simply isn’t acceptable for cartels and gangs to exploit the Biden-Harris administration’s open borders by bringing deadly products into our country, harming our citizens.

With the support of Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller, Secretary Kristi Noem, and border czar Tom Homan, the first step was to close the border. Then War Guard Pete Hegseth and his courageous team intervened to stop a drug ship. But targeting just the cartels wasn’t enough.

Countries in our hemisphere that collaborate with and harbor not only drug traffickers but hostile regimes like Iran must be addressed as well. This brought about an exceptional iteration of law enforcement and special operations, culminating in the Department of Justice, the FBI, and our military capturing dictator Nicolas Maduro to face charges in a U.S. court. It was all part of a revival of the historic Monroe Doctrine, which we now refer to as “Trump’s corollary.”

As for enduring, globally dispersed threats like global jihadism? The situation is just as compelling and data-backed. From the eighth day of his second term, the president reestablished the rules of engagement from his previous term, resulting in the elimination of 516 violent Islamists in Somalia.

And there’s more: through resolute leadership from the Oval Office, the U.S. successfully brought back 90 American hostages without paying a dime in ransom, along with 168 additional hostages held by Hamas in Israel. This is a prime example of “peace through strength” in action.

These events are just a snapshot of what marks the final year of President Trump’s second term. With many other impressive accomplishments, it’s worth paying attention as we move forward.

So, let’s see what unfolds in the next three years.