After securing the presidency of the United States, Donald Trump has outlined an ambitious agenda for his second term, which he promises will “make heads spin.” Working in conjunction with a Republican House and Senate, he plans to make sweeping changes in immigration, trade, foreign policy, and climate action. Now, he has his chance. Now armed with more experience and Cabinet-nominated officials tailored to his needs, his advisors claim that Trump anticipates an even more ambitious agenda with faster policy changes. Here is a look into several areas of policy and how the Trump administration will affect them.
Immigration and the Border: The president-elect has vowed to launch the largest deportation program of illegal immigrants in American history by invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport suspected members of drug cartels and criminal gangs without court hearings. While he has generally avoided questions regarding the return of a controversial zero-tolerance family separation policy from his first term, Trump has appointed “border czar” Tom Homan who is expected to carry out the strict approach.
Global Trade: Central to Trump’s campaign is imposing more extreme tariffs than those enacted in his first term as a solution to inflation. He proposes steep tariffs on imports, particularly from China, and has threatened Mexico with tariffs unless the nation takes steps to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Trump plans to justify these tariffs under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, bypassing Congress as in his first term.
Foreign Wars: Trump has strongly criticized the $108 billion of aid that the Biden administration sent to Ukraine and opposes a continuation of the war. He has claimed that the war will end within 24 hours of his term, though he has not explained how this will occur. Trump has blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for starting the war and has threatened to stop investment in the country. However, Zelenskyy spoke with Trump days after the election to congratulate him in what he called an “excellent conversation.” In the Middle East, Trump has vowed to strengthen Israeli control over the West Bank—an approach that sharply contrasts the Biden administration. Trump will also look to expand the Abraham Accords – a peaceful Middle Eastern military agreement that he brokered in his first administration – but has expressed skepticism over a two-state solution.
Climate and Energy: Trump’s administration intends to dismantle Biden-era climate initiatives, including withdrawing from the landmark 2016 Paris Climate Agreement (Trump withdrew from the agreement in his first term, but Biden rejoined it on his first day in office). He will prioritize domestic oil and gas production, support fracking, and halt the development of wind and nuclear power in favor of sustainable programs. These moves, he argues, will boost American energy independence.
Other Policies: Trump has pledged to launch $4.6 trillion tax cuts. In his first year, Congress and his newly established DOGE – the Department of Government Efficiency – department headed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will evaluate which tax cuts are viable. His agenda also emphasizes reshaping federal health agencies and the education system to align with conservative priorities. Trump has not taken a stance on whether he would further regulate abortion but has spoken out against government involvement in healthcare programs. Additionally, the president-elect is expected to yank money away from certain educational programs that teach race-related curricula.
Donald Trump’s presidential plans are historically ambitious. While predictions on how policies such as his tariff plans and newly created DOGE have been made, only time will tell will reveal their consequences.
