One full year into President Donald Trump's second term — exactly on this historic January 20 anniversary — the raw truth is undeniable: executive power has been unleashed like never before. From sweeping pardons that rewrite justice for patriots, to aggressive ICE raids crushing sanctuary strongholds, to bold threats of invoking the Insurrection Act against chaos-makers, Trump has governed with the kind of decisive, America First authority the establishment never saw coming — and the fake news media desperately tries to bury.
While the mainstream outlets obsess over "divisions" and "controversies," they ignore the bigger picture: a president finally using every tool in the Constitution to deliver on promises, secure borders, protect citizens, and dismantle the deep state stranglehold. Here's what they're not telling you.
The Pardon Power Flex: Justice for the January 6 Patriots and Beyond
On Day One — January 20, 2025 — Trump issued one of the most sweeping clemency proclamations in history: full, complete, and unconditional pardons for nearly all convicted in connection with the January 6 events at the Capitol. This included leaders of groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, ending what Trump called a "grave national injustice" and a politicized witch hunt by the prior administration.
But he didn't stop there. In the past year, Trump has piled on more pardons and commutations — over 100 times the clemency he granted in his first term's early days. Recent batches include high-profile releases: former Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez (campaign finance plea), fraudster Adriana Camberos (pardoned twice now, after a first-term commutation), and others tied to securities and insider issues. Critics howl "abuse," but insiders see it as correcting overreach — freeing Americans targeted by weaponized DOJ probes while signaling loyalty to supporters who stood for election integrity.
The fake news buries the context: these moves restore balance after years of selective prosecutions. Trump's patriots walk free; the real criminals — the ones who rigged systems or covered up scandals — stay locked in the spotlight.
Raids and Border Hammer: ICE Unleashed in Minneapolis and Beyond
No story exposes the power surge more than the ongoing ICE operations in Minnesota. Since early January 2026, thousands of federal agents — over 2,000-3,000 at peaks — have surged into the Twin Cities for mass deportation enforcement, targeting sanctuary policies and alleged fraud in welfare programs. Raids have been swift, public, and unapologetic, resulting in thousands of arrests.
Tragic incidents have followed: the January 7 fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good (a 37-year-old mother allegedly attempting to run over agents, per DHS; disputed locally) and another agent-involved shooting injuring a man. Protests erupted, clashing with masked ICE teams, leading to vandalism, arrests, and escalating tensions.
The buried truth? These aren't random chaos — they're the direct result of Trump's executive orders securing borders (like EO 14165 on January 20, 2025, reinstating protocols and prioritizing removals). Sanctuary cities defied federal law; Trump enforced it. The raids deliver on mass deportation promises, crippling criminal networks and fraud schemes that drained taxpayer dollars.
Threats of Insurrection Act: The Ultimate Backstop Against Anarchy
When protests turned violent and local officials failed to rein them in, Trump didn't hesitate: he threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act — the 1807 law allowing presidential deployment of U.S. military domestically to quell rebellion or unrest. On Truth Social and in statements, he warned Minnesota leaders: stop the "professional agitators and insurrectionists" attacking ICE patriots, or face troops.
The media spins it as "authoritarian," but the reality is clear: this is a president refusing to let states sabotage federal law enforcement. With agents under assault and communities on edge, the Act stands as the tool to restore order — used sparingly by past presidents, but ready when chaos threatens national security.
The Unrestrained Reality: Year One Scorecard They Bury
This is executive power in overdrive: 229+ executive orders by mid-January 2026 (from rail dispute boards to Venezuelan oil safeguards to defense contracting reforms), rescinding harmful Biden-era policies on Day One, expanding travel bans, prioritizing warfighters, and more. Add Greenland gambits, Venezuela black ops success, healthcare and credit card bombshells — Trump governs without apology.
The fake news buries these stories because they prove America First works: borders secured, justice corrected, threats neutralized. The establishment hates it because it exposes their impotence.
The stories they don't want you to read? Trump's Year One isn't chaos — it's controlled, constitutional dominance. Pardons heal divisions the left created. Raids enforce laws ignored for years. Threats deter anarchy. This is the unrestrained presidency America voted for.
Stay tuned; Year Two starts today, and the power unleashed shows no signs of slowing. The fake news can spin — but the results speak louder.