The Trump Years: Golden Escalator To Golden Age

Contact Your Elected Officials

Ten years ago, on June 16, 2015, internationally famous reality TV  star and real estate mogul Donald Trump officially declared his candidacy for President of the United States.

Along with his wife Melania, he descended the โ€œgolden escalatorโ€ to the lobby of Trump Tower and delivered an announcement speech that shocked the political world, starting the most remarkable presidential campaign in history.

Trumpโ€™s comments set the political world on fire. He was immediately rebuked for his supposedly โ€œracistโ€ comments about Mexico. Trump said, โ€œWhen Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their bestโ€ฆThey’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.โ€

Within two weeks of his announcement, NBC ended their โ€œbusiness relationshipโ€ with Trump on his hit show, The Apprentice, as well as the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants. NBC claimed the decision was due to Trumpโ€™s โ€œderogatory statementsโ€ฆregarding immigrants.โ€

Joining NBC in condemning Trump were the entire mainstream media and the Republican Party establishment. Trumpโ€™s opponent in the race for the GOP presidential nomination, former Texas Governor Rick Perry, called him a โ€œcancer on conservativismโ€ and a โ€œbarking carnival act.โ€

Despite the criticism, Trump, the carnival barker, and political neophyte, was able to take the lead in the crowded field of Republican presidential candidates within weeks of entering the race. A July 2015 CNN poll showed Trump on top with 18% support while 52% of Republican voters wanted him to remain in the race, despite the withering criticism.

Trump succeeded because Republican voters, by 2015, were tired of the never-ending wars. They were also tired of the neocon wing of the GOP, represented by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Due to his familyโ€™s presidential pedigree, Bush was considered the overwhelming favorite for the 2016 Republican Party nomination. Fortunately, Trump easily dispatched Bush and famously labeled him โ€œLow Energy Jeb.โ€  

While Bush was the candidate of the past, Trump offered a new direction for America by stressing the need to strengthen border security, restore once booming factories, revamp trade deals with China and rebuild our military.

In his announcement speech, Trump vowed to โ€œbring back our jobsโ€ฆbring back our manufacturingโ€ฆbring back our militaryโ€ฆtake care of our vets.โ€ He said that he would โ€œtake the brand of the United States and make it great again.โ€ 

In his first presidential term, Trump accomplished all these goals; however, after four years of the disastrous Biden administration, Trump faced a declining America at the start of his second term.

Trump responded quickly by signing a dizzying number of executive orders and implementing bold, new policy initiatives throughout the federal government. From his border policies to his reciprocal tariffs to his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Trump has been working tirelessly on behalf of the American people.

In less than five months, the results have been amazing. The border is now secure and criminal illegal aliens are being removed from the country. The economy has strongly recovered from Bidenโ€™s policies as inflation is extremely low and the trade deficit has sharply declined. Furthermore, military recruitment is soaring and the U.S. Armyโ€™s spectacular 250th Anniversary celebration will motivate more Americans to enlist in the armed services.

In the next few weeks, Congress will pass Trumpโ€™s โ€œBig, Beautiful Bill,โ€ and renew his tax cuts. The legislation also contains enhanced funding for border security and the military, so additional spending cuts are a priority.

A national debt that is approaching $37 trillion must be addressed. Consequently, the U.S. House of Representatives passing a recission package of $9.4 billion in cuts was a good first step, hopefully, followed by more significant spending reductions.

All this progress is moving America toward a โ€œGolden Ageโ€ according to President Trump.

Not surprisingly, significant threats to the agenda loom large, especially judicial overreach, which is threatening every Trump policy. Additionally, a radical leftwing is mobilizing agitators, as witnessed first in Los Angeles, and, on Saturday, throughout the country at the โ€œNo Kingsโ€ rallies.

These protests and the stunning successes are due to Trumpโ€™s decision to descend the โ€œgolden escalatorโ€ in 2015 and enter the world of politics. Thereafter, he was subjected to a multitude of attacks that is unprecedented in American history.

Along with constant insults from his political opponents, boycotts of his businesses, two phony impeachments, a special counsel investigation into fictitious โ€œRussian collusionโ€ charges, FBI surveillance and a raid of his home, a mug shot, a sham congressional investigation into the January 6th protests, four partisan criminal investigations, outrageous civil cases, a biased conviction in a kangaroo court, and two assassination attempts, Trump has withstood consistently biased media coverage.

In the first one hundred days of his second term, Trump received 92% negative coverage by the three major broadcast networks. This is typical of the media coverage he has received since he descended the โ€œgolden escalator.โ€  

Despite non-stop hateful treatment, President Trump received a 53% approval rating from the American people in the latest Rasmussen poll. Obviously, the American people admire a tenacious President who rises from being shot to yell โ€œFight, Fight, Fight.โ€

Another positive attribute for President Trump is his consistency. In contrast to most politicians who constantly change their positions, Trumpโ€™s message today is remarkably similar to the themes outlined in his 2015 presidential campaign announcement.

In his first speech as a presidential candidate, Trump said America โ€œwas tired of being ripped off by everybody in the worldโ€ and โ€œtired of spending more money on education than any nation in the world per capita.โ€

Trump made promises that he fulfilled, such as to โ€œbuild a great wallโ€ on the Mexican border and โ€œNobody would be tougher on ISIS.โ€ He also vowed to โ€œstop Iran from getting nuclear weapons,โ€ and to โ€œRenegotiate our foreign trade deals.โ€

Most importantly, in 2015, Trump promised he would โ€œMake America Great Again.โ€ Yes, we are on our way, thanks to President Trump. 

Jeff Crouere is a native New Orleanian and his award-winning program, โ€œRingside Politics,โ€ airs Saturdays from Noon until 1 p.m. CT nationally on Real America’s Voice TV Network AmericasVoice.News and weekdays from 7-9 a.m. & 6-7 p.m. CT on WGSO 990-AM & Wgso.com. He is a political columnist, the author of America’s Last Chance and provides regular commentaries on the Jeff Crouere YouTube channel and on Crouere.net. For more information, email him at jcrouere@gmail.com

Jeff Crouere
Jeff Crouerehttps://www.crouere.net/
Jeff Crouere is a native New Orleanian and his award-winning program, โ€œRingside Politics,โ€ airs on Real America's Voice TV Network and AmericasVoice.News and weekdays on WGSO 990-AM and Wgso.com. He is a political columnist, the author of America's Last Chance and provides regular commentaries on the Jeff Crouere YouTube channel and on Crouere.net.

The Sacred Honor of the 56

Today we're celebrating the sacred honor of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence.

Alligator Alcatraz: A Bold Step Toward Secure Borders

Alligator Alcatraz funded through FEMA, represents a decisive move by the Trump admin to address illegal immigration with efficiency and resolve.

Is America Broke?

Silicon Valley investor and economic commentator Balaji Srinivasan made...

Hungary: Prideโ„ข Cometh Before the Color Revolution

The EU engaged in a diplomatic siege of the Eastern European nation-state of Hungary pressuring it into embrace global trannyism or face wrath of Brussels.

Understanding the Trump/Musk Feud

The passion Trump and Musk exhibit over the OBBB is not contrived or for show. Each is addressing the problem from completely different approaches.

Noem Waives Environmental Restrictions to Fast-Track Water Barriers in Rio Grande

DHS Sec Kristi Noem waived federal environmental laws to fast-track construction of 17 miles of waterborne barriers in the Rio Grande in South Texas.

Federal Officials Warn of โ€˜Lone Wolfโ€™ Terror Threats on July 4, NY Governor Says

NY Gov. Kathy Hochul confirmed that federal officials informed her about a possible terrorist threat ahead of the July 4 Independence Day holiday.

Record 1 in 5 Buyers of New Cars Committing to $1,000-Plus Monthly Payments: Edmunds

The share of new car buyers committing to make monthly payments of $1,000 or more hit an โ€œall-time highโ€ in the second quarter of 2025.

US Economy Adds 147,000 New Jobs, Unemployment Rate Dips to 4.1 Percent in June

The U.S. job market remained strong in June, as labor conditions continued to hold up amid economic uncertainty.

US Keeps Pressure on Chinese Goods Amid Vietnam Trade Deal

Transshippingโ€”rerouting goods through a third country to disguise the origin of the productsโ€”is a focal point of trade negotiations with Asian markets.

White House Report Reveals Top Earners, Staffers Working for No Salary

The Trump admin released its yearly report that shows the salaries for White House staffers, also revealing officials who arenโ€™t accepting salaries at all.

Transportation Secretary Urges Governors to Remove Political Messages From Crosswalks, Intersections

Duffy sent letters to governors, mayor of D.C., and gov of Puerto Rico urging them to remove political messaging from intersections and crosswalks.

Bessent: US, India Near Agreement to Lower Tariffs

The United States and India are โ€œvery closeโ€ to a trade agreement, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday.
spot_img

Related Articles