Obviously, the LA Times is coming down on the side of Biden, but, the column barely gets into specifics
Column: How do Biden’s first 100 days in office compare with Trump’s?
A president’s first 100 days are an arbitrary benchmark, a point of measurement journalists are fond of because it allows us to draw comparisons between the current officeholder and Franklin D. Roosevelt, the last chief executive whose first three months were truly momentous.
But in recent times, the 100-day trope has also been taken seriously by presidents — including both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump promised that in his first 100 days he would repeal Obamacare, build a wall on the border with Mexico and persuade Congress to pass term limits.
None of those things happened, but Trump did outdo former holders of the office in one regard: producing unshirted chaos.
So, mean tweets is worse than instituting authoritarian policies?
The headstrong new president imposed a ban on immigrants and travelers from Muslim countries, but it was quickly reversed by federal courts. He stripped federal funding from sanctuary cities, but that, too, was quickly challenged. His national security advisor resigned amid a scandal over secret contacts with Russian officials.
That “Muslim ban” came directly from what the Obama admin was proposing. Who was VP then? Sanctuary cities? They’re violating federal law.
Biden, too, pledged quick action. He promised to deliver 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine in his first 100 days; when that proved too easy, he doubled the goal to 200 million (and reached it).
That would be the 100 million Trump promised, and with the vaccine that China Joe said would never be developed that quickly.
He promised COVID relief, and managed to push a massive $1.9-trillion bill through Congress without a vote to spare. He has proposed a $2.3-trillion infrastructure plan. And his approval in public opinion polls stands at about 54%, a higher level than his predecessor ever touched.
The $1.9 trillion of which only a small percent goes to COVID relief? And the infrastructure which is mostly not? There’s a few slight negatives aimed Biden’s way, but, they note
For all those cautions, Biden has succeeded in his first step: He has revoked dozens of Trump’s policies through executive orders and ended Trump’s crusade to defund and dismantle large parts of the federal government.
“He’s restored normal governance — and it’s amazing how quickly,†Kamarck told me. “This administration is almost boring some of the time. That was never the case under Trump.â€
Weren’t we told that Presidents aren’t allowed to revoke policies of previous presidents? Or, is that only when ones named Trump are in office? And, it’s not a good thing that government is growing again.
Anyhow, let’s look at the difference in practical terms. Here’s Trump’s (giving a few highlights, you can read the whole thing, of course)
Read: LA Times Wonders How China Joe’s And Trump’s First 100 Days Compare »