The start of 2025 has been anything but calm, and Donald Trump, now president-elect, is already dealing with major issues he often spoke about during his campaign. These events are putting his promises of restoring safety and order to the test.
In New Orleans, a driver intentionally drove a truck into a crowd celebrating the new year, killing more than a dozen people. Federal authorities called it a “planned” act of terrorism. Hours later, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. Both incidents shook the nation, and people were already on edge after news of a Chinese cyberattack on the Treasury Department. This attack, carried out by state-sponsored hackers, is being called a significant breach, adding to recent problems caused by Chinese hackers targeting U.S. telecommunications systems.
in a report by politico.com, Trump has used these events to reinforce his campaign message about America being in decline and in need of stronger leadership. He blamed “open borders” for the attacks and criticized President Joe Biden for being weak on crime and national security. However, investigators have identified both suspects in the New Orleans and Las Vegas incidents as U.S. citizens, not immigrants.
The New Orleans attacker, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, is an Army veteran from Texas who had expressed support for ISIS. The suspect in the Las Vegas explosion, Matthew Livelsberger, is an active-duty Army soldier. Authorities have stated that the two incidents are not connected. These facts complicate Trump’s claims and show that the problems are more complex than his campaign speeches suggested.
Trump’s repeated claims about crime being at an all-time high are also misleading. Statistics show that violent crime has been decreasing in many major cities. And while Trump has often said he “defeated” ISIS during his first term, Jabbar’s support for the group tells a different story.
The cyberattack on the Treasury Department is another major concern. It’s part of a series of recent hacks by Chinese-sponsored groups, including attempts to target Trump, his running mate J.D. Vance, and other U.S. officials. Trump reacted strongly, calling the U.S. a “laughing stock” and promising that only “strong leadership” could fix the country’s security problems. However, he hasn’t yet announced key appointments for cybersecurity roles, which leaves questions about how prepared his administration will be to handle these threats.
Trump’s incoming team has been vocal about taking a tough stance on China. Mike Waltz, the incoming national security advisor, has called for stronger actions against Chinese hackers, including the possibility of offensive cyberattacks. Marco Rubio, Trump’s pick for secretary of state, described the recent breach as one of the worst intrusions in history. Lawmakers from both parties are also pressuring the incoming administration to respond forcefully to these cyberattacks.
At the same time, Trump’s approach to China could make relations even more tense. While he’s threatened new tariffs and filled his team with officials known for their hardline stance on Beijing, he also invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to his inauguration—a gesture Xi declined.
As Trump prepares to take office, he’s facing the reality of the challenges he used to criticize. It’s one thing to point out problems from the outside, but now he’ll need to take responsibility for solving them. Whether he can deliver on his promises remains to be seen.
