The things Trump did that I actually agree with (on paper at least)

 So...going by his day 1 executive orders, in all fairness to the guy, what did he do that I actually liked? 

So let's go into it.

"Delivering emergency price relief"

Idk how he's gonna do it, and that's the thing, it's probably a toothless virtue signal of a decree, but I do like the idea of raising living standards, even if I think he's not actually doing F all here.

"Ending weaponization in government"

Yeah, I like the idea of not using the government to go after political enemies because they're your enemies. However, let's face it, trump is just ending weaponization against him. He's fine with taking down general milley's portrait or rescinding john bolton's secret service protection. But yeah, I like the idea in principle. I just understand he's not gonna be consistent in it

"Restoring freedom of speech"

 I like free speech, but again, trump isn't gonna do anything horrifically hypocritical in cracking down on the speech of people who doesn't like, is he? I know, I look like padme right now in that meme.

"Protecting the meaning and value of American citizenship"

 So, this is gonna be controversial on the left, but I dont actually like birthright citizenship as it exists. I DO think there is a loophole, and at least one parent should be a legal resident at the time of birth. I dont think this is controversial. I mean, you get someone coming here illegally, popping out a kid, and then boom the kid is a citizen? That's ridiculous and it's problematic.

Now, people might ask why I care so much. Well...I support large universal social safety nets. Ya know, the kind that you dont have to work for. The ones that would likely be tied to citizenship or legal residency. Giving a UBI and universal healthcare to illegal immigrants is unsustainable and politically toxic. It threatens to undermine my entire economic ideology. So...I gotta take this stand in order to protect ideas I prioritize higher than this. If anything, this is where liberalism is kinda going in the wrong direction for me. They care more about illegal immigrants sometimes than they care about the well being of citizens. Ive seen liberals oppose UBI because they care so much about their "nation of immigrants" BS that they would subject us to a jobist pro work regime with open borders forever because they care more about being open to immigration than they so large universal safety nets. Such liberals are not my allies. And yes, I do have a nationalist and protectionist streak to my politics that aligns somewhat with Trump's priorities at times that doesnt fit into the modern democrats. It fit well into the pre 2016 party, and even Bernie was like "yeah i aint for this open borders crap, thats a koch proposal", but yeah, I'm NOT in favor of just...letting illegal immigrants waltz in here and get citizenship via a loophole.

I will say, solving this through an executive order isnt the proper way of doing this though, and that this is likely completely toothless and a virtue signal. 

"Ending DEI programs"

 Look, I dont like preferential treatment in regards to race, gender, etc in hiring decisions. While I believe in large universal safety nets, I dont believe in the right of a job, I see jobs as relatively scarce commodities for workers, and I believe in pure meritocracy as far as who gets them. I dont think that DEI is fair for, say, white males who work hard and are more qualified for positions, and I think that such policies are needlessly divisive. Even if I agree systemic racism and sexism in the workplace can be a thing, this ain't the solution. So...I dont like DEI. I'm sorry, I don't.

And yeah, that's about it. 

As you can tell half this article is "oh hey i like that, I know that trump is a total hypocrite on this issue though and I called him out. However, as you can tell, there are some issues where I'm actually somewhat aligning with Trump here. Most notably ending birthright citizenship for someone born of two illegal immigrants, and ending DEI programs. I just have a different brand of progressivism and don't really go all in with this hardcore "woke" social justice oriented vision of the left. There are issues where I kinda cross the aisle and agree with conservatives here. Not everyone is gonna like it, but it is what it is. I would still say I agree with the left like 85% of the time, but this is where you see that 15% in practice where I kinda go with Trump.

Does this mean that I like him or support him? No. These are just broken clock moments. Or really, positions i never shifted on from my formerly conservative worldview. You guys realized I used to be conservative and I kinda just wrote over most of my old worldview right? But that doesnt mean that occasionally I dont have a view that never shifted. I have the old school 6th party system conservative view of being "color blind" and not liking weird social justice liberalism or its initiatives. I also tend to have some protectionist views on immigration as they relate to my economic progressivism (again, see the link between my pro UBI ideology and being moderate on immigration, UBI isnt compatible with open borders). 

And yeah. it is what it is.