Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich released a new video dissecting President Donald Trump’s first year back in the White House.
The video lays out ten major campaign promises Reich says Trump has failed to deliver on, despite repeated claims of success.
As Reich puts it, “Not so fast.”
The line sets the tone for his critique, casting doubt on the gap between Trump’s campaign promises and what Americans have actually experienced in terms of jobs, prices, healthcare, and more.
Tariffs and Jobs
One of Trump’s signature pledges was to spark a new “Golden Age” for the U.S. economy through aggressive tariffs.
“The Golden Age of America begins right now,” Trump had declared.
But according to Reich, these tariffs backfired. The U.S. experienced a spike in unemployment and a surge in job cuts.
Manufacturing jobs declined, and companies faced higher costs due to expensive imported materials.
Reich argues that this economic instability resulted in fewer jobs and more layoffs.
“The most beautiful word in the dictionary to me is tariff,” Trump once said.
But as Reich points out, “Trump’s chaotic tariffs created uncertainty in the economy, which resulted in more layoffs and less hiring.”
Grocery Prices Rise
Trump also promised lower grocery bills. “A vote for Trump means your groceries will be cheaper,” he said.
In reality, grocery prices have risen almost every month since his return to office.
Reich points to tariffs on imported food and labor shortages from mass deportations as key drivers of these increases.
Reich said Trump’s grocery price promises fell flat because, “America imports a huge chunk of its food supply,” and mass deportations caused a shortage of farm workers and meat packers, further driving up prices.
Energy Bills Go Up
In another campaign claim, Trump promised to slash Americans’ energy costs by 50%. Instead, electricity prices jumped 11% in 2025, three times the inflation rate.
Reich attributes the spike partly to Trump’s opposition to renewable energy.
“No. We don’t allow windmills. And we don’t want the solar panels,” Trump once said. The administration’s emphasis on energy-intensive AI data centers further strained the power grid.
Housing Crisis Deepens
Trump vowed to reduce housing costs by eliminating regulations.
But Reich notes home prices and rents are still climbing, with affordability out of reach for many Americans.
Trump’s policies, including his support for 50-year mortgages and labor disruptions from ICE actions, have exacerbated the problem.
His administration also cut billions from housing programs, including aid for the homeless.
Healthcare Setbacks
While Trump celebrated minor food ingredient changes as progress toward health, his administration slashed funding for healthcare services.
Reich warns that the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies sent insurance premiums soaring.
Reich said the expiration of ACA subsidies had a major impact:
“Trump also allowed Affordable Care Act subsidies to expire, sending insurance premiums soaring for millions of Americans by an average of more than $1,000 per year.”
The Environmental Protection Agency rolled back protections for clean air and water, and new pesticide approvals raised additional health concerns.
Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr. cut public health programs and undermined vaccine access.
Foreign Policy Turmoil
Trump pledged to bring peace. Instead, Reich highlights rising military tensions, including airstrikes in the Caribbean, increased defense spending, and the bombing of Iran without Congressional approval.
A temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas made headlines, but Trump has remained quiet as violence in Gaza continues.
Deportations Beyond Criminals
“We will remove all criminal aliens immediately,” Trump said.
But according to Reich, most ICE arrests involved people without criminal records, including some U.S. citizens.
In at least three known cases, citizen children were deported. ICE now has the largest budget of any federal law enforcement agency.
Weaponizing Government
Despite vowing to end what he called the “weaponization” of government, Trump installed his personal attorney as attorney general and removed prosecutors who wouldn’t pursue his political targets.
He issued pardons to allies, including January 6 rioters and a crypto executive connected to his family’s business.
Reich also notes that Trump has threatened the media and attempted to punish critics with regulatory pressure.
Rising National Debt
“We’re going to pay down our national debt,” Trump once said. Yet the debt ballooned in his first year back.
Reich says cuts to federal jobs and programs failed to offset the trillions added through new spending.
The administration’s “Big Ugly Bill” is projected to add another $3.4 trillion.
Tax Breaks for the Rich
One promise Trump did keep? Tax cuts for the wealthy.
“You’re all people that have a lot of money! I know about twenty of you and you’re rich as hell! We’re going to give you tax cuts,” Trump said.
Under the “Big Ugly Bill,” the top 1% received an average annual tax break of over $66,000. Estate tax changes are expected to transfer $212 billion to wealthy heirs.
Overall, the richest Americans are projected to receive $2 trillion in tax breaks over the next decade.
What Comes Next?
Reich concludes by reminding viewers of Trump’s bold assertion:
“I’m the only politician in history that I’ve actually kept more promises than I made.”
But for millions of Americans facing higher costs and fewer services, the reality appears far different.
In Reich’s view, the first year of Trump’s second term hasn’t just fallen short; it’s been a complete reversal of what many voters were told to expect.
IMAGE CREDIT: “Donald Trump” by Gage Skidmore, via Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Image adjusted for layout.