President Donald Trump marked the 100-day milestone of his second term with a Cabinet meeting that was as much a celebration of achievements as a public display of praise from his top officials. The two-hour session on Wednesday showcased Trump’s leadership, with Cabinet members lauding his policies and accomplishments, sometimes in extravagant terms that bordered on flattery.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio kicked off the praise by highlighting a significant achievement in Trump’s second term: the return of 47 wrongfully detained Americans. “Forty-seven for the 47th president in the first 100 days,” Rubio said, emphasizing Trump’s success in securing the release of Americans held abroad. Rubio credited the president’s leadership for the diplomatic breakthrough.
Vice President JD Vance added to the high praise, claiming that Trump’s presidency was more action-oriented than many of his predecessors. He argued that presidents like Ronald Reagan, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln were mere “placeholders” compared to Trump’s bold approach to governance.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum also joined the chorus, describing Trump as “not just courageous, but fearless” in tackling issues others would shy away from. “All of us can sprint because you’re running ahead,” Burgum declared, further underscoring the president’s dynamic leadership style.
Although Trump is typically the one boasting about his achievements, this time, his Cabinet officials took turns extolling his virtues and accomplishments. The meeting served as both a celebration and a public relations event to mark the progress in his second term. Each Cabinet member was presented with a “Gulf of America” hat, a nod to Trump’s recent executive order changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico, though the order only holds authority within U.S. borders.
During the meeting, Attorney General Pam Bondi praised Trump’s fentanyl crackdown, claiming his administration had saved “258 million lives” by seizing large amounts of fentanyl from entering U.S. borders. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. thanked the president for providing him with “the 100 busiest days of my life.” Rubio’s comments also centered on Trump’s diplomatic success, especially with regard to the wrongful detentions of American citizens abroad.
Lee Zeldin, the EPA administrator and a military veteran, expressed his gratitude for Trump’s leadership in assembling what he called “the greatest national security team” in his 27 years of service to the country.
Despite the high praise, the meeting glossed over the economic challenges facing Trump’s administration, such as the declining stock market and an economy showing signs of contraction. The praise also overshadowed the controversies surrounding the mishandling of military secrets by some of Trump’s senior officials.
For some observers, the excessive flattery went too far. Conservative commentator Ann Coulter took to social media, calling out the “Kim Jong-il-style tributes” being directed at the president, a reference to the adulation North Korea’s dictator receives from his officials.
Even as Trump’s Cabinet members heaped praise on him, Burgum noted that the team assembled around Trump was exceptional, calling it “the greatest Cabinet ever.” The public affection in the Cabinet meeting was unmistakable, underscoring the loyal support Trump enjoys from his inner circle, even as his presidency faces significant challenges.
