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One year ago, the American people sent a message so powerful that Washington still hasn’t fully absorbed it: They wanted their country back. On November 5, 2024, voters overwhelmingly re-elected President Donald J. Trump, restoring an America First agenda that puts citizens — not bureaucrats or global elites — at the center of national policy. In just 10 months, President Trump has done what few leaders in modern history have managed: He has kept his promises. From sealing the border to lowering costs, from rebuilding the military to unleashing American energy, he has moved with the speed and purpose of a man who knows the clock is ticking and the country he loves is worth saving. The results have been nothing short of historic. Illegal crossings have fallen to record lows, and “catch and release” ended once and for all. Criminal aliens are being deported, cartels are being dismantled, and human trafficking networksare being taken apart. For the first time in years, America is controlling its borders and protecting its children. (RELATED: New York Finally Advances Trump Endorsed Pipeline Despite Democrats’ Enviro Pleas) At home, law and order have been restored. The president’s signature of the Laken Riley Act, passed in his first months back in office, requires the detention and deportation of criminal illegal aliens and empowers states to hold the federal government accountable for enforcement. Violent crime is down, sanctuary cities are losing federal funding, and the Department of Justice has new marching orders: protect Americans first. The economy has roared back to life as well. After years of crushing inflation, prices are falling, gas is $3 a gallon, and blue-collar wages are climbing faster than they have in half a century. The president’s “No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime” law is letting millions of workers keep more of their paychecks. It’s a revolution for middle-class families who, for too long, have carried the burden of Washington’s failed economic policies. Meanwhile, the United States is once again the world’s leading energy producer. Through decisive executive action, President Trump ended the Joe Biden-era freeze on drilling, opened millions of acres for exploration, and reignited American energy dominance. The phrase “drill, baby, drill” isn’t just a slogan; it’s a national strategy that’s lowering prices and strengthening America’s power abroad. On the world stage, peace through strength has returned as the cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy. The president has rebuilt the military, restored recruitment and morale, and refocused defense priorities on readiness — not ideology. He has helped broker or facilitate peace in eight global conflicts, proving that when America leads with strength, the world takes notice and steps back from chaos. Economic nationalism is thriving again. New tariffs and tougher trade agreements have revitalized manufacturing, brought back factories, and forced China and other countries to play fair. Trillions of dollars in private investment are now flowing into American communities, rebuilding the industrial base that politicians from both parties had all but abandoned. At home, President Trump has restored sanity to our institutions. He ended radical diversity, equity, and inclusion mandates, stopped taxpayer funding for schools that push gender ideology and critical race theory, and ensured that biological men can no longer compete in women’s sports. By closing the Department of Education and returning power to parents and states, he has fulfilled one of the most long-standing conservative promises in modern politics. And he has defended freedom itself. The Trump-Vance Administration has dismantled government censorship programs, ended the political weaponization of federal agencies, and reaffirmed Americans’ right to speak, worship, and live according to their values without fear of reprisal. Tuesday’s elections in New York City, New Jersey, and Virginia — where Zohran Mamdani, Mikie Sherrill, and Abigail Spanberger prevailed in their respective contests — demonstrate that Democrats continue to hold important urban and suburban constituencies. Those results are a reminder that the Left remains entrenched in many coastal and metropolitan districts and that winning permanently requires more than headlines; it requires sustained outreach, policy wins that affect everyday lives, and an organizing apparatus that turns governing success into votes. California’s Proposition 50 was also on the ballot this cycle. The measure would have stripped power from the state’s independent redistricting commission and handed it to the legislature — giving Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic lawmakers the ability to gerrymander congressional districts to their political advantage. The fight over who controls the map isn’t just a procedural debate; it’s a struggle over raw political power, accountability, and whether voters choose their representatives or politicians choose their voters. It is also part of a broader democratic reckoning about who controls institutions and how responsive those institutions are to ordinary citizens. Even with a few setbacks at the ballot box yesterday, the result of campaigns that failed to connect with voters on the high cost of living and everyday concerns, the deeper story of this presidency’s first year is one of unity through achievement. For the first time in years, Americans across backgrounds believe the nation is moving in the right direction. Jobs are plentiful, communities are safer, and a renewed sense of confidence is taking hold in towns and cities across America. President Trump often says that success brings people together, and this past year has proven him right. America is safer, stronger, freer, and prouder than it has been in years. Our enemies fear us, our allies respect us, and our citizens believe once again in the promise of this great nation. One year in, there’s no mistaking it: the American comeback is real. The border is secure, the economy is thriving, and the flame of freedom is burning bright. Promises made. Promises kept. America is back. Jorge Martinez is senior advisor and National Director for Hispanic Outreach for America First Works. He previously served as press secretary for the U.S. Department of Justice. The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation. 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