by Alena Zhang ‘18, Commentary Editor

As thousands of Americans celebrated Trump’s first day in office, just as many of our citizens bubbled with outrage. His first year in office has been troubling, to say the least. Of course, he has impressive accomplishments under his belt: a new tax law, a growing economy, lower unemployment rates. However, one cannot ignore the fact that his administration has produced one of the most divisive political climates we have seen in decades. As the first president to be elected without any government or military experience, Trump is certainly a trailblazer. Here are some of the other “firsts” that he’s been responsible for and some records he’s helped set.

The Women’s March on Washington Over 5 million women and men were estimated to have participated in these peaceful protests nationwide. Organizers aimed to “send a bold message to our new administration on their first day in office, and to the world that women’s rights are human rights,” according to the official Women’s March on Washington website. In Washington alone, the march was the largest single political demonstration since the anti–Vietnam War protests in the 60s and 70s. This year, on the anniversary of the first march, protesters gathered once again to protest Trump’s policies on “immigration, healthcare, racial divides.” Trump responded that it was a “perfect day for all Women to March” and “we are with you all the way.” Ironic, considering that the protests were mostly against… him.

Presidential Twitter Drama In case you were wondering, Trump’s nuclear button is bigger than “Little Rocket Man” Kim Jung Un’s.

North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the “Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.” Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018

He’s also a stable genius, in case you happen to be doubting his mental stability like the 27 psychologists who authored The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump. He also suggested that MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski had a face-lift, and even insinuated that NY Senator Kirsten Gillibrand “would do anything” for a donation at the height of the #MeToo movement. Not as globally significant, but still confusing: his nonsensical late-night remarks on “covfefe.”

Unprecedented Racial Division and Violence Trump’s fumbling efforts to address white-supremacist violence in Charlottesville claimed that “there’s blame on both sides.” According to him, “very fine people” existed amongst a group of neo-Nazis. To him, Haiti and African countries are “s***holes” that produce inferior immigrants compared with those of countries like Norway. Trump also dismissed Senator Elizabeth Warren as “Pocahontas,” mocking her claims about being part Native American, while addressing a group of American Indians.

A Record-Setting Turnover Rate, including Administrative Resignments, Oustings, and Firings National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Deputy White House chief of staff Katie Walsh. FBI Director James Comey. Press Secretary Sean Spicer. Chief of Staff Reince Priebus. Chief Strategist Steve Bannon. Need we list more? According to the New York Post, not even a year into office, 21 of 61 of Trump’s senior officials had resigned, been fired, or been reassigned.

Worst Approval Ratings for a President’s First year in Seven Decades According to the Huffington Post, approximately 55% of people disapprove of his presidency thus far, while approximately 41% approve. His current standing is “similar to President Richard Nixon’s months into the Senate hearings on the Watergate scandal.” According to CNN, his numbers are far below the ratings of W. Bush, H. W. Bush, Kennedy, Eisenhower, Nixon, Clinton, Carter, Obama, and Reagan during their first year in office.

Over 39 pages existing under the Wikipedia category “Trump administration controversies.” This figure is only beaten by Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama—who had eight years of office under their belts, compared to Trump’s one.

An Erosion of Cultural Norms and Respect for the Rule of Law The troubling relationship between the Trump administration and “fake news” outlets poses great dangers to the First Amendment’s protection of freedom of the press. A Vox video entitled “How Trump makes extreme things look normal” explains the political theory of the “Overton window,” a specific range of acceptable ideas and policy proposals in public discourse. Everything outside this “window” is considered radical or even unthinkable. The easiest way to shift that window is by forcing people to consider ideas at the extremes—even if they reject these ideas, all less extreme ideas would seem acceptable by comparison. Consequently, the window would move slowly in that direction, which in this case is the far-right.

Trump is one of the most extreme leaders the world has ever seen, carrying several records under his belt. But that “trailblazer” title isn’t as great of a name as it sounds, and perhaps those records haven’t been touched before for a reason.