President-elect Donald Trump, poised to return to the White House following the presidential election results, has vowed to take decisive steps in the areas of immigration, economy, and the war in Ukraine.
Numerous reports suggest that Trump is likely to enjoy significant support for his political agenda in Congress after his party, the Republicans, regained control of the Senate.
In his victory speech, Trump emphasized, “We will govern by a simple creed: the promises we made are the promises we will keep. We remain committed to our commitments.” However, he provided limited details on how he intends to achieve his goals in some areas.
When asked by Fox News in 2023 whether he would use his powers to target political opponents, Trump replied that he would not, “except on the first day,” adding, “No, no, no, except on the first day. We will close the borders, and we will drill, and drill, and drill. After that, I will not be a dictator.”
Dismissal of Investigating Attorney General
Trump pledged to dismiss Attorney General Jack Smith, who is leading two criminal investigations against him, “within seconds” of taking office.
Trump faces allegations from Smith related to “attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and mishandling classified documents,” which he denies any wrongdoing.
In the same context, Trump managed to prevent their prosecution before the elections, indicating that “Smith was causing political persecution.”
It is expected that Trump will return to the White House as the first U.S. president to be criminally convicted after being found guilty in New York of “falsifying business records.”
Pardons for Capitol Rioters
Trump stated that he would “release” some of the individuals convicted in the January 6, 2021, riots when his supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to overturn Joe Biden’s election victory.
While Trump was blamed for several deaths due to the violence he allegedly incited, he sought to downplay the events, considering hundreds of his convicted supporters as “political prisoners.”
Moreover, Trump continues to assert that many of them are “unjustly detained,” although he acknowledges that “two of them may have gotten out of control.”
Deportation of Border Crossers
During his campaign, Trump committed to implementing the largest mass deportation of undocumented immigrants in U.S. history. He also promised to complete the construction of the border wall with Mexico, which began during his first presidency.
At the end of last year, the southern border saw record levels of crossings during the Biden-Harris administration before the numbers decreased this year.
According to experts speaking to the British Broadcasting Corporation, implementing the deportations at the level Trump promised would face significant legal and logistical challenges and could hinder economic growth.
Taxes and Tariffs
Polls showed that the economy was a prominent issue among voters. Trump promised to “end inflation,” which reached historic levels during President Joe Biden’s tenure before later decreasing, although the president’s direct influence on prices remains limited.
Trump also vowed to introduce comprehensive tax cuts, proposing to exempt tip-based income from taxes and eliminate social security payment taxes, along with reducing corporate tax.
Furthermore, Trump suggested imposing new customs tariffs of 10% on most imported goods to reduce the trade deficit, mentioning the possibility of additional charges up to 60% on Chinese imports.
However, some economic experts warn that these policies could lead to higher consumer prices.
Ending the War in Ukraine
Trump criticized the United States’ spending of tens of billions of dollars to support Ukraine in its war against Russia, asserting his determination to end the conflict “within 24 hours” through a negotiated deal.
Although he did not disclose the details of what each side would need to concede, Democrats believe this move could give Russian President Vladimir Putin an advantage in the conflict. Trump also mentioned the need to reduce American involvement in foreign conflicts in general.
Regarding the war in Gaza, Trump affirmed his strong support for the State of Israel but called on his Israeli ally to end its military operations. He also committed to ending the violence in Lebanon, without providing further details.
Abortion Left to the States
During his presidential debate with his former opponent, Kamala Harris, Trump confirmed that he would not sign a nationwide abortion ban, diverging from some of his supporters’ wishes.
In 2022, the Supreme Court, which has a conservative majority due to Trump’s two presidential terms, abolished the constitutional right to abortion. Reproductive rights became a central issue in Harris’s campaign, with many states enacting measures to protect or expand abortion rights on election day.
Trump reiterated that states should have the freedom to make their own decisions regarding abortion, but he has failed to provide a clear and consistent vision on the issue.
Reducing Climate Regulation Laws
During his first presidency, Trump rolled back hundreds of environmental policies and made the United States the first country to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement.
In his current presidential campaign, Trump renewed his commitment to reducing regulatory restrictions as a way to support the American auto industry, consistently criticizing electric cars and stating that he would cancel the targets set by Biden to promote the transition to cleaner cars.
Trump also promised to increase fossil fuel production in the United States, emphasizing “drill, and drill, and drill” from the first day. He also seeks to open areas like the Arctic tundra for oil exploration, claiming that it would help reduce energy costs, although analysts are skeptical of these potential benefits.
