President Donald Trump’s strongest public-facing achievement in his first year has been border security, while tariffs remain the administration’s most significant economic and political challenge, according to Chuck Todd, former moderator of “Meet the Press” and host of “The Chuck ToddCast.”
“I think the biggest accomplishment as far as the public’s concerned, when you think about those top issues of 2024, it’s the border,” Todd said on a recent broadcast. He pointed to polling that shows voters credit Trump most for immigration enforcement and border stability.
Todd also cited partial progress in easing Middle Eastern conflicts as a secondary achievement, though he described the gains as uneven. “Trump’s personal style may be uniquely effective in the region, even if it has been less effective in Europe,” he added.
Meanwhile, Todd identified convincing voters that tariffs will improve the economy as Trump’s most difficult task ahead. Affordability concerns continue to dominate public sentiment and have bolstered individual Democratic candidates despite the party’s overall low favorability.
“The success of individual Democratic candidates clearly is because they singularly have been focusing on the affordability issue,” Todd explained. “You just simply can’t wave a magic wand and fix the affordability problem.”
Todd noted many Americans have not yet felt the benefits of recent tax cuts, limiting their political impact. He highlighted internal divisions within the Democratic Party as central to its struggles: “The more animating divide in the party is fight versus unite. Do you try to make a play for those independents for the center, or do you fight Trump harder?”
Todd observed that the Democratic base increasingly rewards confrontation, citing early 2028 polling showing California Governor Gavin Newsom gaining momentum by aggressively targeting Trump. In contrast, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear have been less energizing due to their focus on unity efforts.
“The direction Democrats take could hinge on the outcome of the midterm elections,” Todd said. “A strong showing could encourage a more moderate approach, while disappointment could fuel momentum for the party’s progressive wing.”
