FIRST ON FOX: As President Trump marks his first 100 days in office on Tuesday, the administration is touting all of their fulfilled campaign promises when it comes to Social Security, an issue where he has been much maligned by Democrats and some in the media.

«I am proud of the extraordinary work by our dedicated employees at SSA to help deliver on President Trump’s promise to protect Social Security,» Lee Dudek, acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), told Fox News Digital in a statement.

«They have worked tirelessly to improve customer service while safeguarding Americans’ hard-earned benefits from waste, fraud, and abuse. It will take time to fully recover from the disastrous policies of the previous administration, which led to sky-high wait times for customer service and unconscionable delays for benefit decisions,» Dudek continued. «But SSA employees are leading the turnaround by refocusing their work on frontline customer service, modernizing IT for a better customer experience, and bolstering program integrity.» 

The administration, which has called Trump’s first 100 days the most successful of any administration, says that it has made «significant strides» in moving the Social Security Fairness Act forward and has paid over $14.8 billion in retroactive payments to over 2 million individuals affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset.

GOP SENATOR TURNS TABLES ON DEM NARRATIVE ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE: ‘GET FRAUD OUT OF THERE’

The Trump administration is touting its improvements to Social Security during President Donald Trump’s first 100 days. (Getty)

Trump’s moves on Social Security come as Democrats, including former President Joe Biden, have accused the administration of plotting to slash Social Security benefits, particularly through the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE’s) efforts to reform the agency. 

However, the administration says that it is focused on reforms, not cutting benefits, and a White House official told Fox News Digital that SSA has identified over $1 billion in cost avoidance or efficiencies for fiscal year 2025 «through new, common-sense approaches in areas such as payroll, information technology, contracts and grants, real property, printing, travel, and purchase card policies.»

Examples include reducing software licensing, salvaging and repairing tables and chairs, returning leased motor vehicles, converting in-person training to online, streamlining case assignment and tracking systems, and reducing travel card spending allowances. 

Additionally, the White House official says the agency has made strides in implementing fraud prevention tools, including tools that help identify fraudulent claims via telephone.

Many, including DOGE chief Elon Musk, have raised concerns about the accuracy of Social Security records, particularly when it comes to data related to whether a person is deceased or still on the rolls despite being well over 100 years old. 

The White House told Fox News Digital that progress has been made on that front as well to improve the accuracy of death data and called that effort a «high priority» that was a low priority in the previous administration.

FEDERAL JUDGE TEMPORARILY RESTRICTS DOGE ACCESS TO PERSONALIZED SOCIAL SECURITY DATA

Social Security card. (Kurt «CyberGuy» Knutsson)

Musk has drawn the ire of Democrats by referring to Social Security as a «Ponzi scheme.»

Fox News Digital spoke to an expert earlier this year who made the case that Musk has a point in using the term «Ponzi scheme.»

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DOGE leader Elon Musk has been hit with 96% negative coverage on ABC, NBC and CBS evening newscasts, according to the Media Research Center. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

«Musk’s statement about Social Security being the world’s biggest Ponzi scheme does have validity,» James Agresti, president of the nonprofit research institute Just Facts, told Fox News Digital in response to pushback from Musk’s claim, which included a «false» rating from Politifact. 

«A Ponzi scheme operates by taking money from new investors to pay current investors. That’s the definition given by the SEC, and contrary to popular belief, that’s exactly how Social Security operates.»

Jack Ma, el multimillonario cofundador de Alibaba, fue implicado en una campaña de intimidación organizada por el régimen chino, según documentos judiciales revelados por The Guardian. El objetivo de esta operación era presionar a un empresario, identificado únicamente como H, para que colaborara en la purga de un alto funcionario caído en desgracia, Sun Lijun, exviceministro de Seguridad Pública.

La estrategia desplegada por las autoridades de la autocracia comunista china combinó amenazas directas, coacción familiar y procedimientos legales internacionales.

En abril de 2021, Jack Ma realizó una llamada a H, residente en Burdeos, Francia, en la que intentó convencerlo de regresar a China. De acuerdo con las transcripciones presentadas en un tribunal francés, Ma expresó que había sido presionado por las autoridades de seguridad chinas para contactar a su antiguo conocido.

Durante la conversación, el empresario transmitió la oferta del régimen: si H regresaba y cooperaba, se le garantizaría inmunidad. “No tienes otra solución… el lazo se apretará cada vez más”, le advirtió Ma en la llamada, registrada por H. La víctima había comenzado a grabar a todos aquellos que lo llamaban, incluidos funcionarios, por su propia seguridad.

Los métodos de intimidación empleados por el régimen incluyeron un bombardeo de llamadas telefónicas de amigos y funcionarios de seguridad, la emisión de una notificación roja de Interpol y la detención de la hermana de H en China.

La presión psicológica fue intensa y sistemática, alternando promesas de clemencia con amenazas explícitas de represalias contra su familia. Según los documentos judiciales, estas tácticas formaban parte de una estrategia conocida como “guerra psicológica”, orientada a lograr la “voluntaria” repatriación de disidentes.

Mientras enfrentaba un proceso de extradición en Francia, H vio confiscado su pasaporte y se mantuvo bajo la amenaza de ser devuelto a China. Sin embargo, en julio de 2021, el tribunal de apelaciones de Burdeos rechazó la solicitud de extradición tras determinar que tenía un carácter político.

Posteriormente, la notificación roja emitida a través de Interpol fue retirada. Los abogados de H argumentaron que las acusaciones de blanqueo de capitales eran infundadas y estaban diseñadas para forzarlo a testificar contra Sun Lijun.

Aunque logró evitar su regreso forzoso a China, H sufrió consecuencias financieras graves. Incapaz de operar comercialmente o saldar deudas en su país natal, acumuló obligaciones financieras por un total de 135 millones de dólares, según medios chinos.

En paralelo, Jack Ma reapareció en la vida pública en China a principios de 2025, donde fue visto aplaudiendo al presidente Xi Jinping durante una reunión de líderes empresariales en el Gran Salón del Pueblo de Beijing, gesto interpretado localmente como un acto de reafirmación de su lealtad al Partido Comunista Chino.

El empresario H, de 48 años y ciudadano de Singapur nacido en China, fue acusado en su país de origen de delitos financieros relacionados con la plataforma de crédito Tuandai.com. Según los documentos revisados por The Guardian, la policía china emitió cargos de blanqueo de capitales contra H en 2020, un año antes de la llamada de Jack Ma. La acusación sostenía que H había participado en el traslado al extranjero de fondos obtenidos ilícitamente por el fundador de Tuandai.com, quien fue condenado a 20 años de prisión por captación ilegal de fondos.

Durante el proceso judicial en Francia, los abogados de H aseguraron que su cliente desconocía el origen ilícito de los fondos y que su participación en la empresa se limitaba a una inversión legítima. En conversaciones registradas y presentadas ante el tribunal, H insistió en su inocencia, afirmando: “Nada de esto es verdad”.

El uso de la notificación roja de Interpol para intentar capturar a H fue objeto de críticas por parte de defensores de los derechos humanos y expertos legales. Según Rhys Davies, abogado británico especializado en represión transnacional, este mecanismo es “el rifle de francotirador de los autócratas”, permitiendo a regímenes autoritarios apuntar a opositores a distancia de manera efectiva.

El caso de H fue presentado como ejemplo de cómo el régimen chino no necesariamente busca la extradición formal, sino que utiliza la localización de individuos para incrementar las presiones sobre ellos y sus familias.

Ante las acusaciones, un portavoz de la embajada china en el Reino Unido negó las imputaciones, calificándolas como “puras fabricaciones” y aseguró que China respeta la soberanía de otros países y actúa dentro del marco legal en su cooperación judicial internacional. Por su parte, un portavoz de Interpol defendió la validez del sistema de notificaciones rojas, subrayando que cuentan con procedimientos estrictos y en constante revisión para evitar abusos.

President Donald Trump’s second term has taken the world by storm in his first 100 days, leaving allies and adversaries scrambling to respond to new U.S. tariffs, stalled peace negotiations and hardball diplomacy from the White House.

On the campaign trail, he pledged to hit allies and foes alike with massive tariffs, end Russia’s war in Ukraine within 24-hours and threatened that «all hell» would break out if all hostages were not freed from the clutches of Hamas in Gaza by the time he entered the Oval Office.

While Trump has been able to make good on some of his promises, other ambitions remain unmet. Here’s what Trump has accomplished and what challenges remain:

POLL POSITION: WHERE DONALD TRUMP STANDS WITH AMERICANS 100 DAYS INTO HIS SECOND PRESIDENCY

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C. (REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein)

Where Russia’s war in Ukraine stands

Trump last week conceded that his pledge to end the three-year-old war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office was «figurative,» acknowledging it was never a realistic goal. The conflict has claimed a reported 1 million casualties.

«I said that as an exaggeration,» he told reporters. 

While Trump has faced criticism over his ability to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, his team — led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Antony Rubio — has made some headway, securing a 30-day ceasefire protecting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

But Putin has so far refused to enter any other brokered agreements, despite Kyiv’s willingness to play ball even after the historic Oval Office blow-up between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February.

Though Trump appeared to hold a grudge against Zelenskyy after Ukraine rejected a proposed mineral deal — even blaming him in part for Russia’s illegal invasion — relations between the two leaders appeared to improve over the weekend. Trump also set a new ultimatum for Putin, issuing a deadline to reach a ceasefire deal.

«Two weeks or less,» Trump told reporters Sunday, though he later added a bit more time would be acceptable. «We’ll see what happens over the next few days. We’ll probably learn a lot.»

TRUMP AND ZELENSKYY HAVE ‘VERY PRODUCTIVE’ TALK AS THEY ATTEND POPE FRANCIS’ FUNERAL

Trump said he was «surprised and disappointed» after Putin last week levied a barrage of missiles at Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv in a strike that killed 12 civilians and injured nearly 100 more.

«I want him to stop shooting, sit down and sign a deal,» Trump said in reference to Putin. «We have the confines of a deal, I believe, and I want him to sign it and be done with it and just go back to life.»

Trump has not said how or whether he will hold Putin accountable if he doesn’t agree to a ceasefire and the White House has not responded to Fox News Digital’s repeated questions regarding the issue.

President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speak in Rome where they both attended Pope Francis’ funeral on April 26, 2025. (Vatican and Ukraine Ambassador to Holy See)

Gaza ceasefire

Before entering office, Trump repeatedly threatened Hamas that «all hell» would break out if they didn’t return all hostages by the time he arrived at the White House. 

But the Palestinian terror group has ignored his threats and rejected Trump’s February proposal to turn the Gaza Strip into the «Riviera of the Middle East,» saying it would adhere to a ceasefire agreement brokered between the terrorist organization and Israel, mediated by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt. 

Trump has not hit Hamas, nor have his negotiations to release hostages looked all that different from his predecessor’s.  

The first phase of what was intended to be a three-phase ceasefire saw the return of 33 hostages taken by Hamas, the majority of whom were abducted in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel, as well as the release of 1,800 Palestinian prisoners held by Jerusalem. 

But 59 hostages remain in Gaza, including American-Israeli Edan Alexander, and hopes of a second phase collapsed after negotiations stalled on terms surrounding future hostage releases, and in March Israel reignited military operations in the Gaza Strip.

A Qatari official on Sunday said the main hiccup in securing a ceasefire following the latest round of talks last week is that Israel has not presented a clear solution to end the war in exchange for hostage releases, Reuters reported. 

Trump on Friday said he pushed Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to reopen aid corridors into Gaza, which have been blocked since March 2, in order to allow food and medicine to reach Palestinians, though humanitarian corridors have not yet been opened. 

IRAN, US BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS OVER TEHRAN’S ADVANCING NUCLEAR PROGRAM

Gaza City, Gaza on February 02, 2025.  (Ali Jadallah/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Iran nuclear agreement

Trump on Sunday said he believes a deal to end Iran’s nuclear program can be achieved «without having to start dropping bombs all over the place.»

Details on nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran in Oman on Saturday, in which the third round of talks were held, remain nil, though Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly told Iranian state media they were «very serious and work-focused.» 

Araghchi described the hours-long talks as having finally «entered into deeper and more detailed discussions,» though no specifics of the negotiations have been released. 

It remains unclear if the Trump administration is pursuing a halt to Tehran’s nuclear advancement or a complete disarmament arrangement, which would see the destruction of Iran’s centrifuge facilities and its stockpiles of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium. 

It also remains unclear how much time the president will allow for the negotiations to carry on. 

CHINA’S ECONOMIC WOES THREATEN REAL WAR AMID TARIFF BATTLE

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, right, steps out from his plane as he arrives at Muscat, Oman, Friday, April 25, 2025, a day prior to negotiations with U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff. (AP)

Relations with China deteriorate

Relations between the U.S. and China have hit a level of animosity not seen between the two superpowers since Washington normalized ties with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the 1970s. 

The initial U.S.-China trade war started during Trump’s first term, in which he hit China with 25% tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese goods in April 2018.

Beijing responded by slapping reciprocal tariffs on $50 billion worth of U.S. goods, mostly targeting U.S. agricultural products worth some $16.5 billion — a trade war that saw the loss of a quarter of a million U.S. jobs by January 2021, according to the U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC).

From the campaign trail, Trump threatened to hit China with 60% tariffs — which he nearly did in early April when he announced an additional 34% tariff on top of the existing taxes already in place. 

But what had already sent geopolitical shockwaves and sparked near-immediate market concerns was further escalated just over a week later when Trump ratcheted up tariffs on Beijing to 145%. 

China has responded by hitting Washington with its own 125% reciprocal tariffs on U.S. imports and, according to a Bloomberg report on Monday, cargo supply shipments have already dropped by 60%.

Americans are expected to begin feeling the pains of the trade war come mid-May.

Photos of President Donald Trump signing an executive order at the Oval Office of the White House, next to photos of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as investors and markets reacted earlier this month to the news of Trump’s reciprocal tariffs. Photos via Getty Images  (Getty Images)

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Trump said last week he had reached some 200 trade deals with countries affected by his sweeping tariffs — measures that hit nearly every U.S. trading partner, including longtime allies. He paused the tariffs for 90 days earlier this month following intense backlash.

The status of trading relations with U.S. partners remains unclear, along with whether the administration will implement the blanket tariffs on those nations come July.

The 25% tariffs on steel, aluminum and imported vehicles remain in effect.

The White House did not directly respond to Fox News Digital’s questions regarding next steps Trump will takes when it comes to handling thus far unresolved conflict in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip.

A White House spokesman instead said, «President Trump inherited widespread foreign conflicts and a weak standing on the world stage from Joe Biden. Now, America is strong again, hostages are free from Gaza, Marc Fogel and Ksenia Karelina are home, hundreds of Houthi and other terrorists have been eliminated, and we are closer to peace than ever before. 

«This President will never get the credit he deserves for his vast foreign policy accomplishments, but Americans know they are freer and safer under his leadership,» the spokesman added.