Donald Trump has outlined his political program for the new term. He wants to reduce the government’s efforts to enforce civil rights, expand the president’s powers, and change the United States’s role in the international arena.
Immigration
The Republicans do not guarantee that the fight against immigration will be directed only at illegal residents of the United States. He suggests “ideologically vetting” those entering the country and abolishing birthright citizenship. This is likely to require constitutional amendments. The politician seeks to restore the first-term Remain in Mexico program, which restricts the immigration of people of specific nationalities.
Abortion
At Trump’s request, the Republican Party did not call for a national ban on abortion for the first time in a decade. The future president argues that overturning Roe v. Wade is enough at the federal level.
However, Trump did not promise to veto a national abortion ban. Pro-life activists say that Republicans are arguing that the fetus should be protected under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. This argument is a roadmap for conservatives to get abortion bans passed across the country through the federal courts.
Taxes
Trump’s tax policy is mainly aimed at corporations and wealthier Americans. In particular, it is about reducing the corporate tax rate to 15% from the current 21%. The policy also provides for the abolition of the tax increase on the income of the wealthiest Americans and the law on reducing inflation, which finances the fight against climate change.
Tariffs and trade
Trump does not trust global markets, calling them harmful to US interests. He proposes tariffs of 10% to 20% on foreign goods. Analysts predict these duties could cause the euro to fall by 10%. The Republican promises to reinstate the August 2020 order requiring the Food and Drug Administration to purchase life-saving medicines only from American companies. The politician pledges to block Chinese buyers’ acquisition of any critical infrastructure in the United States.
Inclusiveness, civil and LGBTQ rights
The future president will remove the emphasis on protecting LGBTQ people. He called for the suspension of DEI programs. Regarding transgender people, Trump promises to put an end to “boys’ participation in women’s sports.” He will reverse the Joe Biden administration’s policy of extending Title IX civil rights protections to transgender students. Congress will likely require only two genders to be recognized at birth during Trump’s term.
Regulation and presidential powers
The goal is to reduce the role of federal bureaucrats and regulation in all sectors of the economy. He promises that utility bills will decrease by removing obstacles to fossil fuel production. Trump vows to build more housing by changing building regulations. However, most of them are implemented by state and local governments. This approach will significantly increase the influence of the executive branch directly from the White House.
The politician is convinced that the president has exclusive powers to control federal spending even after Congress has allocated money. This may provoke legal confrontations with Congress.
Education
Trump proposes using federal funding to pressure K-12. This is necessary to cancel tenure, introduce teacher bonuses, and suspend the DEI program at all levels of education.
Social security and healthcare
Trump supports protecting social security for older Americans. However, it is unclear how his plans to not tax tips and overtime wages can positively affect this. After all, exempting these funds from taxation will reduce money flow for social and healthcare programs.
Affordable medicines and healthcare
The US president-elect is calling for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, but he has not yet offered an alternative. Trump talked about working with former presidential candidate Robert Francis Kennedy Jr., a critic of vaccines and pesticides used in agriculture. The Republican will instruct Kennedy to “make America healthy again.”
Climate and energy
Trump considers climate change a hoax, criticizing Biden’s spending on cleaner energy and reducing Washington’s dependence on fossil fuels. For his part, the Republican proposes an energy policy related to fossil fuels. Trump opposes the development of the electric vehicle market. He wants to cancel the fuel efficiency standards set by the Democrats.
The role of the United States in the international arena
Trump supports the idea of more superior isolation of the United States regarding diplomacy and protection of economic interests. He promises to expand the army and proposes introducing a new missile defense, an idea of the 40th US President Ronald Reagan during the Cold War. The Republican insists that he will end Russia’s war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East without explaining how. Trump summarizes his approach with a phrase from Reagan: “Peace through strength.”