Best 100-day start of any president, says Trump at Michigan speech. Is it true?

On April 29, US President Donald Trump marked the first 100 days of his second term at the White House in a rally in Michigan, which was described by many as a campaign rally. Dubbed an “achievement speech” by the White House, Trump’s remarks came amid slumping approval ratings and dismal consumer confidence.

However, the US president in his 90-minute speech painted a rather rosy image of America, listing actions he’s taken on the economy, tariffs, immigration and more, which he claims has resulted in the “most successful first 100 days of any administration in the history of our country”.

“This is the best, they say, 100-day start of any president in history, and everyone is saying it. We’ve just gotten started. You haven’t even seen anything yet,” said Trump to his gaggle of supporters, adding, “In 100 days, we have delivered the most profound change in Washington in 100 years.”

In his speech, he also took aim at the approval ratings surveys, calling them “fake” and saying that if the polls were honest, his approval ratings would “be in the 60s or 70s.”

Here’s a fact-check of Trump’s 100-day speech.

The 2020 elections and his ‘win’

Speaking in Michigan, Trump began his speech with gratitude for what he dubbed “the biggest victory in Michigan” and followed it up with claims of the 2020 presidential election. Speaking to a raucous crowd, the US president said, “, “Well we actually already served three, but – if you count – but remember – I like the victories; I like the three victories, which we absolutely had – I just don’t like the results of the middle term.”

This is a false remark. Trump had two victories — one in 2016 and then in 2024 — not “three victories”; he lost the 2020 US presidential elections to Joe Biden. He didn’t serve a “middle term”; Biden was president from early 2021 to early 2025.

Trump further alleged that Democrats attempted to rig the 2024 November election, claiming, “they cheat like hell.” However, there is no evidence that the Democratic Party attempted to sway 2024 election results, and numerous court rulings, audits and reports found no evidence of 2020 voter fraud.

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On illegal border crossings and deportation

In his speech, Trump hailed his administration’s border enforcement policies, saying, “There’s never been such a difference in anything as the difference between the border today and the border what it was just six months ago, so I want to say congratulations, America, it’s about time.”

He further added that his administration is making a bigger dent in stopping illegal immigration than his predecessor. “We are delivering mass deportation, and it’s happening very fast,” Trump said.

Data released by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) reveals that Trump’s government is, in fact, arrested nearly as many people during the first three months of the Trump administration as were arrested in the entire 2024 fiscal year.

However, overall deportations aren’t at the level the administration had predicted. March deportations were actually below how many were deported in March 2024.

Trump’s tariffs

In his speech, hailing his first 100 days, Trump boasted about his tariff policy. “We’ve been abused by friend and foe, and in many cases, friend has abused us more so than foe on trade,” he told the crowd. “So I want to just let you know you’re going to be very proud of this country very soon, and with my China tariffs, we’re ending the greatest job theft in the history of the world.”

However, economists have warned that the president’s trade policies will increase prices of goods.

Trump also boasted that leaders from around the world are travelling to meet with him. “Now, we’re respected all over the world,” he said. “They’re coming from all over the world to see your president. They’re coming from India, they’re coming from France, they’re coming from Spain. Yeah, they’re coming from China, too, yeah, they’re coming from China. They’re coming from all over to see your president. They want to make a deal. They want to make a deal. And you know, we’ll make deals, but we don’t have to.”

However, Beijing has hit back at Trump’s claims of being close to signing off on a trade deal. The Chinese commerce ministry’s spokesperson He Yadong said a few days back that there were “currently no economic and trade negotiations between China and the United States”.

At a later press briefing by the foreign affairs ministry, spokesman Guo Jiakun said of the reports of talks: “None of that is true”.

“For all I know, China and the US are not having any consultation or negotiation on tariffs, still less reaching a deal,” Guo said.

“Any claims about progress in China-US economic and trade negotiations are baseless rumours without factual evidence,” he said, adding that if the US wanted “de-escalation” – as Trump’s Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, has argued – it should “completely cancel all unilateral tariff measures against China and find a way to resolve differences through equal dialogue”.

On inflation and cost of living

US President Donald Trump said that his first 100 days in office has seen a reduction in inflation and cost of basic necessities has decreased. He claimed the cost of eggs is “down 87 per cent” and that gas prices are “down by a lot.” He also said mortgage rates, energy prices and the cost of prescription drugs are also declining.

“Prices are coming way down,” Trump told the crowd. “They said, ‘He pledged to bring prices down.’ Well, that’s what I’ve done.”

On eggs, the US president’s statement is half true. Wholesale prices have fallen — though not by as much as Trump said — but the decline has not yet affected retail prices. In February, egg prices peaked at $8.07 for a dozen. However, since then, it’s fallen 61 per cent, to $3.15.

Trump’s remarks on gasoline prices is false. Trump said gas is selling for $1.98 per gallon in some states. However, the national average is at about $3.14.

Trump and free speech

US President Donald Trump also touched upon the topic of free speech and the freedom of the press in America. “I banned all government censorship and restored free speech in America. We have free speech,” proclaimed Trump.

But the Trump administration’s actions say otherwise. The government has taken action against people and organisations exercising their right to free speech, including the news media, universities and students who participated in activism about the Israel-Hamas war.

“President Trump has certainly not brought back free speech in America,” Nico Perrino, executive vice president of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression — an organisation that defends free speech for people and groups on both sides of the political spectrum — was quoted as telling Politifact.

“In fact, since Inauguration Day, we have seen some of the most significant threats to free speech in recent memory.”

With inputs from agencies