President Donald Trump has signed 65 executive orders as of Feb. 17 since his re-election to the presidency, including department restructurings and policy changes to the White House in coordination with key Republican allies.
Students had ranging opinions on the newly imposed 10% tariffs on China and the possible tariffs on Canada and Mexico.
Many economists forecast that such tariffs would raise prices on consumers without meaningfully reducing the trade deficit. The Trump administration argues that they protect American manufacturing and are a necessary step towards balancing trade.
“We elected a president whose main tactic of negotiation is just to raise prices on Americans,” said Braden Vick, president of the UA College Democrats.
Newly implemented rollbacks on diversity, equity and inclusion programs — rollbacks designed to promote gender, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity and equality in government, education and business — had a more varied response from the student body.
DEI rollbacks are currently being implemented throughout many states and in Alabama through Senate Bill 129, which prevents state agencies and schools from sponsoring DEI content and programs or requiring attendance in those programs or courses.
“We need these voices to be heard,” said Madison Brainerd, a junior majoring in news media. “We need those different opinions.”
Riley McArdle, former chairman of the UA College Republicans, said he supports the changes.
“I think that’s good policy,” he said. “That doesn’t need to be the focus of the federal government, so I think it’s a step in the right direction.”
Jackson Ford, a sophomore majoring in electrical engineering, said he is “not pro-DEI,” but that cutting DEI is not “ride-or-die policy” in his mind.
The administration also implemented new immigration restrictions, such as stricter visa requirements, reduced asylum claims and increased deportation.
Austin Franklin, a sophomore majoring in accounting, said it’s “not a bad idea” for the government to take some time to “get some leverage and agreement on immigration laws” but that it wouldn’t be sustainable in the long run.
Junior economics and political science major Sam McKinney cautioned against racial generalization with immigration restrictions.
“We’re profiling people because they have brown skin and, you know, might look like an immigrant,” he said.
McArdle took the opposite perspective, saying that these policies reflected voter expectations and the high approval rating of immigration restriction in both the Republican and general electorate.
“I think that’s all strong policy, and after all, that’s what his voters voted for,” he said. “I’m glad they’re working on it this quickly.”
On the international level, the administration withdrew from the World Health Organization as well as the Paris Climate Accords, which is a set of goals and best practices adopted to combat climate change.
Lindsay Highfield, a freshman English major, expressed skepticism over the WHO withdrawal, saying “With bird flu on the rise, this halts communication on global diseases.”
Franklin, by contrast, said he approved of the decision.
“I think withdrawing from the World Health Organization was probably a good idea,” he said. “We just need to focus on more of our own health policies and try to do what America thinks is best for America.”
Elon Musk’s public endorsement of, and alliance with Trump, has continued into the administration, where Musk has been appointed to head a cost-saving and expense-cutting effort labeled the Department of Government Efficiency, which is not an official federal department. Zachary Chelette, a freshman majoring in kinesiology, said DOGE and Elon’s efforts were “interesting.”
“Sometimes his thoughts are there, and sometimes they aren’t,” he said.
McArdle said he’s in favor of DOGE but slightly against Musk.
Vick said he didn’t have anything nice to say about Musk, calling him an “unelected Nazi oligarch.”
Trump continues to enjoy high support among republicans and a positive approval rating in most polls and only recently have any negative polls been taken.
