In his campaign for a potential second term, Donald Trump has laid out an extensive vision for the U.S., advocating policies that merge conservative values with a populist focus on trade and a reduced global footprint. His agenda includes changes to immigration, tax reforms, restrictions on federal civil rights efforts, and a significant expansion of presidential power.
Immigration
Trump’s immigration strategy has evolved from his 2016 campaign slogan, “Build the wall!” to proposing “the largest mass deportation program in history.” He suggests deploying the National Guard and granting local police new powers to enforce immigration laws. While details on the program’s specifics remain limited, his approach includes implementing “ideological screening” for immigrants, ending birthright citizenship (likely requiring constitutional amendments), and reinstating policies such as “Remain in Mexico” and bans on entrants from certain majority-Muslim countries. These efforts aim to curb both illegal and legal immigration.
Abortion
Although Trump claims credit for the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, he has not prioritized abortion regulation at the federal level. His approach contrasts with the traditional Republican stance; in 2020, the GOP platform notably avoided advocating a national abortion ban. However, Trump hasn’t explicitly stated if he would veto federal abortion restrictions, leaving some ambiguity. Anti-abortion advocates may still pursue a national ban by asserting a fetus’s due process rights under the 14th Amendment, but Trump’s focus remains more on state-level regulation.
Tax Policy
Trump aims to extend his 2017 tax cuts, benefitting corporations and high-income earners. His tax plan includes reducing the corporate tax rate from 21% to 15%, rolling back Biden-era tax increases on wealthy individuals, and eliminating climate-related taxes under the Inflation Reduction Act. He also proposes measures aimed at middle- and working-class Americans, such as exempting tips, Social Security wages, and overtime from income taxes. Yet, the tip exemption could indirectly benefit top earners if their compensation were reclassified as “tip income.”
Trade and Tariffs
With a more skeptical view of international markets, Trump’s trade strategy would impose tariffs of 10-20% on foreign goods and higher tariffs in some cases. He pledges to reinstate a 2020 executive order mandating that the FDA purchase “essential” medicines from U.S.-based suppliers and seeks to bar Chinese entities from acquiring vital U.S. infrastructure.
DEI, LGBTQ Rights, and Civil Rights
Trump intends to diminish government support for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, which he sees as promoting unnecessary societal divisions. His stance includes ending federal funding for DEI initiatives. On LGBTQ rights, Trump has taken a firm stance against transgender inclusion in sports, vowing to “end boys in girls’ sports.” He plans to rescind Title IX protections for transgender students and has called for federal legislation that only two genders be recognized at birth.
Regulation, Bureaucracy, and Presidential Power
To reduce federal bureaucratic influence, Trump proposes slashing regulations across industries, particularly those affecting fossil fuel production and housing development. He argues that deregulation would result in lower utility bills and stimulate economic growth. Furthermore, Trump intends to reclassify thousands of federal workers, removing civil service protections and thereby simplifying the process of dismissing federal employees. This approach could impact the government’s enforcement capabilities and deter employees from acting against presidential directives.
Trump also claims that presidents should have the authority to control federal spending autonomously, suggesting that congressional budget decisions set a maximum rather than a minimum for federal expenditure. This interpretation could lead to significant conflicts with Congress over budgetary control. Additionally, Trump has floated the idea of increasing presidential influence over the Federal Reserve, potentially altering its independent role in setting interest rates.
Education
Trump has proposed dismantling the Department of Education, though he still envisions using federal funds to influence state education systems. He advocates for the elimination of teacher tenure, merit-based pay, and scrapping of diversity initiatives across all education levels. At the higher education level, Trump aims to directly influence the accreditation process for colleges, calling it a strategy to counter “Marxist Maniacs” in academia. He also targets large university endowments, threatening to tax or fine institutions that do not adhere to his policies. Trump’s vision includes redirecting these funds to an online “American Academy” offering free college credentials to all U.S. citizens. He envisions this academy as a non-political, strictly regulated institution devoid of “wokeness or jihadism,” as he stated on November 1, 2023.
Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid
In a second term, Trump promises to protect Social Security and Medicare, vital programs for older Americans. However, his plan to exempt tips and overtime wages from income taxes raises questions about the programs’ funding, as exempting these wages from payroll taxes would impact the revenue streams for Social Security and Medicare. Regarding Medicaid, Trump’s first term primarily supported granting states waivers for federal requirements and endorsing work requirements for recipients.
Healthcare and the Affordable Care Act
Trump remains committed to repealing the Affordable Care Act but has yet to present a concrete replacement. In a recent debate, he referred to having “concepts of a plan” for healthcare reform. He has aligned himself with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a critic of vaccines and certain pesticides, and hinted at giving Kennedy a role in “making America healthy again.”
Climate and Energy
Trump has criticized Biden’s investments in clean energy, framing climate change as a “hoax” and proposing an energy strategy that focuses on fossil fuels. He encourages traditional energy development, including increased oil and gas drilling, and has promised to end incentives for electric vehicles while repealing fuel efficiency standards. Although he does not oppose electric vehicles outright, he resists policies that promote their adoption.
Workers’ Rights
Trump’s second-term labor policies are aimed at defending the interests of American workers, although his stance on unionization may limit their ability to organize. He often highlights Biden’s push for electric vehicles as a primary issue facing workers, blaming “union bosses and CEOs” for supporting what he calls a misguided shift toward EVs. In a recent statement, Trump encouraged United Auto Workers members to avoid paying union dues.
National Defense and Foreign Policy
Trump’s foreign policy is more isolationist and non-interventionist compared to recent U.S. strategies. He promotes military expansion, proposes a missile defense shield similar to Reagan-era initiatives, and aims to shield Pentagon spending from budget cuts. Trump has made bold claims about ending conflicts, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war, without providing specifics on how he would achieve these goals. His “peace through strength” philosophy, borrowed from Reagan, is paired with skepticism toward NATO and critical views of U.S. military leaders. “I don’t consider them leaders,” Trump remarked about top military officials, while he has consistently praised authoritarian figures like Hungary’s Viktor Orban and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
In summary, Trump’s proposed second term agenda spans sweeping changes across immigration, taxes, civil rights, federal power, education, and national defense. His approach diverges from recent presidents by combining conservative values with an intense focus on populist and isolationist themes, which, if enacted, could redefine America’s role on both the domestic and international stage.
