Blog #160 Trump takes on America’s Toughest Fights.

From Iran to the border, Trump takes on America’s toughest fights

Bold leadership that tackles what Washington refused to fix

President Donald Trump solving problems illustration … more >

COMMENTARY

By David N. Bossie Thursday, July 3, 2025

OPINION:

As America celebrates its 249th birthday, it’s a fitting time to put President Trump’s massive undertaking to save our country in the proper context. For decades, many of the most daunting issues facing the United States have not been adequately addressed, much less fixed. Leaders from both sides of the aisle chose to manage our decay instead of doing the hard work of solving problems. Campaigns and elections came and went with the same tired debates being held on the same old issues. Promises were always made but seldom kept, with meaningful change always “a bridge too far.”

Since he took office nearly six months ago, it has been impossible to miss. Mr. Trump is on a rescue mission to solve as many big problems as he can, and he doesn’t mind juggling more than one at a time. Only a few presidents have shown such determination and fearlessness, and the world is quickly finding out that we’re all witnessing history. To put a fine point on that, here are five consequential matters Mr. Trump is taking on simultaneously, which Washington has collectively punted for way too long.

The Iran problem

For almost 50 years, our leaders have been dealing with the Islamic Republic of Iran and the dangers it poses to the world, not only owing to its status as the leading state sponsor of terrorism but also for its aggressive nuclear aspirations. Since 1979, when Iran took 52 Americans hostage for 444 days, the regime has been chanting “Death to America.” Politicians have talked nonstop about treating Iran like the mortal threat it is, but the mullahs always manage to stay in power to fund horrific acts of terrorism and threaten Israel and the United States, largely unscathed.

Mr. Trump has demonstrated that those days are over. The Iranians are not allowed to have nuclear weapons, terrorize Israel or get away with assassination plots against Mr. Trump without paying a heavy price. This president is a man of action, and he refuses to kick the can down the road on the Iranian nuclear threat any longer. Peace through strength works, and because of Mr. Trump’s bold leadership, the world is a safer place today.

The federal spending problem

America hasn’t had a balanced federal budget in nearly a quarter of a century. Since that time, when support for fiscal responsibility was strong, the script has flipped to a scenario of bipartisan support for unchecked, reckless spending. This warped mindset, which has been adopted by far too many in Congress, has caused our national debt to explode from $5 trillion in 2000 to an unthinkable $36 trillion today.

During election seasons, politicians of all stripes have become skilled at appeasing voters with calls to cut spending, but the promises always ring hollow. Mr. Trump has decided to confront our country’s addiction to budget deficits once and for all. His One Big Beautiful Bill Act contains a record cut in mandatory spending. The Department of Government Efficiency has identified $190 billion in savings, a $9.4 billion rescissions package is working its way through Congress, and appropriators on Capitol Hill are busy codifying DOGE’s fiscal recommendations as we speak.

This is a good start, but it’s really just the beginning of getting America’s financial house in order, and Mr. Trump is dedicated to making sure that happens.

The China trade problem

It has also been 25 years since the United States entered into “permanent normal trade relations” with communist China. Since President Clinton said the deal would “open new doors of trade for America and new hope for change in China,” Beijing has been taking advantage of the agreement nonstop to the detriment of American workers. Year after year, the uniparty in Washington would say China was acting in good faith and that we should ignore all the jobs being shipped overseas and the exploding trade deficits.

Since entering politics, Mr. Trump has been working to change our China policy from “China First” to “America First.” By demanding fair trade through the deployment of stiff tariffs, the United States and China are now finalizing historic trade deals that finally balance the playing field.

The Russia aggression problem

Ever since the fall of the Soviet Union, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has been plotting to re-create the communist empire. Under three of the past four presidents, Russia has been invading its neighbors to pursue that goal. In 2008, Russia invaded Georgia under President George W. Bush; in 2014, Russia invaded Crimea under President Obama; and in 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine under President Biden. America — and the world, for that matter — has been ineffective in dealing with Russian aggression, with one noteworthy exception: President Trump.

During Mr. Trump’s first term, Mr. Putin decided against conducting an unprovoked invasion. Mr. Trump’s peace-through-strength foreign policy was enough of a deterrent to make Mr. Putin think twice. This time, the president has chosen to use his leadership skills to help negotiate a lasting peace in the Russia-Ukraine war that started on Mr. Biden’s watch.

The open border problem

Decade after decade, the American people were betrayed by their government with dangerous open-border policies that did massive damage to our national sovereignty and national security. The border train wreck had spiraled so far out of control that scores of politicians from both parties were constantly pushing to reward illegal immigrants with amnesty or a so-called pathway to citizenship, in exchange for committing a crime. It was a policy void of common sense, with lawbreakers prioritized over legal immigrants and even American citizens.

From the get-go, Mr. Trump had the courage to say, “Stop the insanity.” In record time, he has secured our border and is now focused on orchestrating the largest deportation in history, which will serve as the obituary for the shameful Biden open-border invasion. As crime continues to drop and finite resources are freed up for American citizens, it has become apparent that Mr. Trump’s strong immigration policies are making America great again.

• David N. Bossie is the president of Citizens United. He served as a senior adviser to the Trump 2024 and 2020 campaigns. He served as deputy campaign manager for Donald J. Trump for President in 2016 and deputy executive director for the Trump transition team.