Donald Trump is being accused of trying to repeal the 20th century.
That’s how The New York Times framed it—and frankly, it’s not far off, if you examine the sweeping changes now underway.
When President Biden entered office in 2021, he was cast as a reformer, someone trying to reverse what many Democrats and media figures saw as the damage from Trump’s first term. He was often portrayed as decent, well-intentioned, and progressive—despite criticisms about his age, mental acuity, and the crisis at the southern border.
But Trump’s return to power has triggered the opposite reaction. His second term has been described as a “wrecking ball,” not just to Biden’s legacy, but to modern political norms and long-standing institutions.
A Political Blitz, a Media Backlash
Since taking office again in January 2025, Trump has launched an aggressive push against elite institutions—from major law firms and universities to the media—winning large settlements from ABC and CBS. He’s fortified the U.S.-Mexico border, empowered ICE with expanded authority, and imposed steep tariffs on allies and adversaries alike—much of it in line with his 2024 campaign promises.
But much of the media has responded by returning to a familiar posture: opposition. Trump is again being framed as a threat to democracy, an economic saboteur, and a dangerous populist. Never mind that this time, he won the popular vote.
To his supporters, Trump’s dismantling of Biden-era reforms is no different than what Biden did in 2021—just in the opposite direction. But the reaction is far more apocalyptic.
The Epstein Blunder and the MAGA Mindset
Not all of Trump’s second-term moves have landed cleanly. His administration recently came under fire for closing the book on the Jeffrey Epstein case, citing a lack of a “client list” and reaffirming that Epstein died by suicide. The long-awaited follow-up, hyped by Trump himself, ended in silence.
Investigative editor Sarah Bedford of the Washington Examiner bluntly called it a “huge PR disaster” on MediaBuzz, saying there was no way to spin it.
So why didn’t this story fade after two days like others?
Because, for many MAGA voters, the Epstein outcome tapped into a broader grievance: that the rich and powerful always get away with everything. That elites protect each other. That there’s a double standard—and Trump, for all his flaws, is the only one trying to blow it all up.
Undoing the Global Order
The New York Times‘ Peter Baker summed it up like this: “On matters big and small, Mr. Trump has hit the rewind button.”
From questioning car safety standards and vaccine science to opposing wind energy and modern diversity efforts, Trump seems determined to recreate an earlier version of America—one more in line with his own upbringing than today’s multicultural, globalized society.
Baker notes that Trump appears nostalgic for an era when:
- “Cats” was on Broadway, not Hamilton
- Military bases were named after Confederate generals
- Straws were plastic, and toilets flushed harder
- Immigration was tightly controlled
- Police were encouraged to be “rough”
- Diversity wasn’t a hiring goal
Trump calls this “saving America from radical left lunatics.” Critics call it regression.
Either way, this isn’t just about policy. It’s about identity, memory, and the battle over what kind of country America wants to be.
Meanwhile, Rosie O’Donnell?
In true Trump fashion, a completely unrelated post went viral over the weekend. The president threatened to revoke actress Rosie O’Donnell’s citizenship, calling her a “Threat to Humanity” and suggesting she remain in Ireland.
There is, of course, no legal pathway to revoke citizenship from a natural-born American citizen—especially over personal feuds.
Rosie fired back with a scorching post of her own, accusing Trump of being a “criminal con man” and a “soulless man with dementia.”
There is no evidence of dementia, as the author notes—but in today’s political climate, extreme rhetoric from both sides is par for the course.
Trump isn’t just reversing Biden-era policies. He’s attempting a full-scale cultural and institutional reset—one that’s electrifying his base and infuriating his critics. Whether it’s nostalgia or authoritarianism depends on who you ask. But either way, the 2026 elections are shaping up to be another national referendum on who America wants to be.
