Twelve months ago, America was floundering in the waning days of Joe Biden's failed administration. Four long years of record taxes, inflation, and lawlessness (whether in our major American cities, our Southern Border, or on the international stage).
What a difference a president and, most importantly, a leader can make. Today, we're on the verge of closing out the most successful first year of any president in the modern era. President Trump has brought America back from the brink in a way political elites could never have imagined. As a political outsider and problem solver, President Trump and his team aren't afraid to break from the traditional political norms to achieve results by putting America First.
From an Open Border to a Secure Border: President Biden oversaw an unprecedented flood of illegal immigration, an invasion, into the United States. President Trump's decisive leadership quickly transformed and, most importantly, secured our border through effective executive action. On Day 1, President Trump reinstated "Remain in Mexico," resumed border wall construction, ended "catch-and-release," and increased deportations and enforcement. So while Democrats asked for more legislation and investigations to get to the "root cause" of the wave of illegal immigration, President Trump took decisive action, and today, there has been an approximate 99 percent drop in illegal crossings.
The Peace President: Under President Biden, our adversaries equated America's military strength with President Biden's fragile physical and mental appearance. As such, hostile nations flaunted international law and engaged in acts of aggression. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently confirmed that the Ukraine War would not have happened if President Trump had been president. It is undeniable that the world is now safer because of President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio's strong international leadership. The U.S. has a red line, and our adversaries are well aware that there are severe repercussions for crossing the U.S. (just ask the Iranian Regime about their nuclear weapons program). President Trump's exceptional implementation of "Peace Through Strength" has resulted in historic peace deals, including peace in the Middle East through the Abraham Accords.
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Making America Affordable Again: Under President Biden, hardworking American families were suffering under record inflation, averaging nearly 5 percent due to reckless spending, which created a cost-of-living disaster. Thankfully, President Trump is fixing our economy, with core inflation at the lowest level in nearly five years, around 2.7 percent. So, how does that translate to the kitchen table? Everything from the price for groceries, toys, prescription drugs, clothing, airfares, natural gas, and gas prices at the pump has plummeted to multiyear lows. Further, wages continue to rise due to President Trump's prioritization of American workers and the reshoring of domestic manufacturing.
Companies are investing in their businesses, resulting in high-paying job creation, in no small part due to the "One Big Beautiful Bill," the largest tax cut in American history. There is still work to be done, but the economy that was once on life support is recovering, and Americans can continue to expect lower prices and bigger wages as we enter the Golden Age of our economy.
Ultimately, the 2026 Midterms will boil down to a simple question, made famous by President Ronald Reagan: "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" The American people are undeniably in a better position under President Trump's America First agenda, but as the midterms approach, Republican candidates must make the case to voters if they want to accelerate and solidify the gains made by the executive branch. We have strong leadership in the White House, we have strong leadership in the House, and now we need a strong majority in Congress to deliver lasting wins for the American people. After graduating from West Point, I raised my hand and volunteered to defuse bombs in Afghanistan because I knew I performed well under intense pressure, and I wanted to serve my country. Now, I am raising my hand again to fight for this country in Congress because I know what it means to put my country first and myself last.
Alex Mealer is a wife and mother of two, combat veteran, Harvard JD / MBA, and former energy finance executive who is proud to be raising the next generation of Houstonians. Mealer is currently a candidate for Congress in Texas's redrawn 9th District.
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