WASHINGTON — Donald Trump has committed to implementing extensive changes during a potential second term in office. The former president, who has now been re-elected, has frequently bypassed intricate details but has spent over a year outlining a broad agenda that fuses classic conservative views regarding taxation, regulations, and cultural matters with a populist approach concerning trade and U.S. foreign relations. His plans also include reducing the federal government’s involvement in civil rights and increasing the powers allocated to the presidency.
An overview of Trump’s proposals reveals several key areas of focus. In terms of immigration, the phrase “Build the wall!” from his 2016 campaign has transformed into a vision of the “largest mass deportation program in history.” He suggests employing the National Guard and strengthening local police to execute this plan. Nevertheless, Trump has not provided concrete specifics on how this initiative would be structured or how it would strictly target undocumented individuals. Additionally, he has advocated for “ideological screening” for immigrants, the termination of birthright citizenship, and the revival of prior policies such as the “Remain in Mexico” framework, which restricts migrants based on public health considerations and could include strict limits on those entering from certain majority-Muslim countries. Collectively, these measures suggest not just a stringent approach to illegal immigration but a broad reduction in immigration levels overall.
Regarding abortion, Trump has somewhat downplayed its significance as a second-term goal, even while claiming credit for the Supreme Court’s decision to rescind federal abortion rights, returning regulatory power to individual states. Notably, the GOP platform, at Trump’s insistence, refrained from endorsing a national abortion ban for the first time in years. He argues that overturning Roe v. Wade suffices at the federal level. However, he has not clarified whether he would veto any national restrictions that may come to his desk. Anti-abortion advocates within the conservative movement highlight that the party’s platform still maintains that a fetus is entitled to due process protections under the 14th Amendment, which could serve as a basis for pushing for a national abortion prohibition through legal channels.
On tax policy, Trump’s approach predominantly benefits corporations and affluent Americans. His vow to prolong his 2017 tax reforms includes note-worthy alterations, such as reducing the corporate tax rate from 21% to 15%. Trump’s plans also encompass reversing President Joe Biden’s tax increases on high earners and eliminating levies from the Inflation Reduction Act aimed at funding climate initiatives. Despite this, Trump emphasizes new benefits for working-class and middle-class individuals, such as exempting tips, Social Security wages, and overtime income from taxation. It’s important to consider that his tips proposal might indirectly create a tax advantage for high earners if restructured by Congress, allowing some professionals to categorize their earnings as tips. This could be particularly advantageous for those in high-paying professions while being presented as support for service workers.
As for trade, Trump’s stance on international commerce is characterized by skepticism towards global markets, which he perceives as detrimental to American interests. He advocates for imposing tariffs ranging from 10% to 20% on imported goods, citing even higher figures in some speeches. Trump intends to renew an executive order mandating that the FDA procure “essential” medications solely from U.S. firms and pledges to prohibit Chinese entities from acquiring U.S. critical infrastructure.
Trump’s position on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives—especially concerning LGBTQ rights—is one of opposition. He has called for the dismantling of DEI programs in public institutions, leveraging federal funding as a means to accomplish this goal. On transgender issues, he has expressed a commitment to end the participation of transgender girls in female sports, arguing, without substantiation, that this practice is widespread. Moreover, under his governance, transgender students would no longer receive Title IX protections, and he would advocate for new legislation defining gender recognition strictly at birth as limited to two categories.
When it comes to regulations and federal bureaucracies, Trump aims to drastically reduce the influence of federal officials across various economic sectors. He promotes regulatory rollbacks as a way to stimulate economic growth. His promises suggest significant decreases in household utility expenses by removing barriers to fossil fuel production, including the opening of federal lands for exploration, notwithstanding the current peaks in U.S. energy output. Trump asserts that regulatory cuts can spur a housing construction boom, though most housing policies are dictated at the state and local levels. He also critiques what he terms “frivolous litigation” linked to environmental advocates.
Furthermore, Trump envisions an empowered executive branch with more direct authority flowing from the presidency. He aims to ease the dismissal of federal employees by reclassifying many as outside civil service protections, which may compromise the government’s ability to enforce regulations and could foster a chilling effect on remaining staff. He has proposed that the president has exclusive control over federal spending decisions, potentially leading to disputes with Congress over budget allocations. Additionally, he has indicated that the Federal Reserve, as an independent entity, should be subject to more presidential oversight, an assertion that would represent a substantial alteration to U.S. economic and monetary frameworks.
Trump plans to eliminate the federal Department of Education, yet he still proposes to use federal financial resources to compel compliance with his educational policies. His agenda includes pressuring K-12 institutions to remove tenure and implement merit-based pay for teachers, as well as eliminating diversity initiatives in educational settings. He plans to cut federal support for any school or program promoting Critical Race Theory or other ideologies he considers inappropriate. In the realm of higher education, Trump seeks to overhaul accreditation processes and impose substantial taxes on large private university endowments that do not adhere to his demands. This could lead to extensive legal disputes over compliance.
Concerning Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, Trump asserts he would safeguard these significant programs for older Americans. Questions regarding the implications of his tax policies on Social Security and Medicare persist, particularly since exempting certain wages from income taxes could reduce funding for these programs. His administration previously allowed states more latitude in waiving federal rules concerning Medicaid and endorsed work requirements.
In health care, Trump continues to advocate for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act without providing an alternate plan, despite claims of having “concepts” for one. He has aligned himself with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a notable critic of vaccinations, announcing that he would assign him a role in health policy.
Trump’s approach to climate and energy reflects his controversial stance that climate change is a “hoax.” He criticizes expenditures on sustainable energy efforts aimed at reducing dependency on fossil fuels while advocating for investment in traditional energy sources. He has emphasized fossil fuel-based infrastructure and has expressed opposition toward incentivizing electric vehicles under the Biden administration while committing to diminish fuel efficiency standards introduced previously.
Regarding labor rights, the Trump administration’s rhetoric appears supportive of American workers, although his policies could present challenges for labor unions. His remarks on auto workers have predominantly highlighted Biden’s electric vehicle policies rather than union benefits, often denouncing union leaders alongside corporate executives.
National defense under Trump’s potential tenure is framed by an isolationist and protectionist worldview, more so than any previous administration. He has vowed to bolster military strength while guarding against defense budget cuts, alongside implementing a new missile defense initiative echoing strategies from the Cold War. Despite his assurances to resolve ongoing conflicts like the war in Ukraine, specifics remain sparse. Trump’s critique of NATO and leadership at the Pentagon reflects his preference for more authoritarian governance, exemplified by his praise for figures like Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.