Trump administration's first 100 days: a troubling assault on human rights

Monday 28 April 2025 - 08:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Trump administration's first 100 days: a troubling assault on human rights

The initial 100 days of Donald Trump’s second administration have been marked by a relentless series of actions that jeopardize, threaten, or undermine human rights both in the United States and abroad, according to a report released by Human Rights Watch. To shed light on the breadth and depth of the damage inflicted since Trump took office on January 20, 2025, the organization has compiled a list of 100 harmful actions that have transpired during this period.

"Within just 100 days, the Trump administration has caused significant harm to human rights in the United States and around the globe," stated Tanya Greene, director of the U.S. program at Human Rights Watch. "We are deeply concerned that these attacks on fundamental freedoms continue unabated."

Among the documented harms resulting from the first 100 days of the Trump administration are assaults on freedom of expression; the rights of asylum seekers and immigrants; health, environmental, and social protections; education; foreign aid and humanitarian assistance; and the rule of law.

Since January 20, the Trump administration has illegally transferred Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national, back to his country, forcibly removing other immigrants under circumstances that equate to enforced disappearances. Additionally, asylum seekers of various nationalities have been sent back to Panama and Costa Rica in violation of international law. The administration has also attacked the rights to freedom of expression and assembly, detaining and attempting to deport non-citizens due to their activism related to Palestine.

These harmful policies have global repercussions, as the Trump administration has drastically reduced support for human rights beyond U.S. borders. The government has abruptly terminated foreign aid programs, endangering the lives of countless individuals reliant on such support. Vital assistance has been withdrawn from hundreds of thousands in conflict zones, and efforts to support human rights defenders, independent journalists, and investigative groups documenting ongoing atrocities have been abandoned. Rights Watch also highlights the administration's efforts to facilitate racist practices. The Trump administration is exerting new pressures that hinder the vital work aimed at ensuring citizens have access to the truth about U.S. history. It has launched renewed and virulent attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, which are essential tools for promoting equal treatment as enshrined in human rights legislation and the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Many of the measures enacted by the Trump administration are currently being challenged in courts. Citizens both in the U.S. and abroad are voicing their opposition to these actions.

"The protests occurring across the country underscore the critical importance of fundamental freedoms and rights," Greene concluded. "In the U.S. and abroad, citizens will need to rely on these very freedoms that are under threat to demonstrate their resistance and resilience."