The name of America’s newly elected President Donald Trump has been decided. Time The magazine’s Person of the Year highlights the continued centrality of his personality in shaping American politics and global discourse. This was the second time he received this recognition. Of course, this was inevitable given the nature of his victory in the November presidential elections. The liberal media has been one of the most vocal opponents of Trump and his policies, but finally, it has now been forced to admit that it is out of touch with mainstream America. And Trump will not let them forget this easily.
Over the past few days, Trump has been outlining his administration’s policy priorities and making it clear that he sees no need to back down from most aspects of his campaign promises. Given his victory against Vice President Kamala Harris last month, Trump has claimed that his campaign has resonated with the country by focusing on immigration, the economy and other key issues, which he has argued are important to voters. Concerns match more. Democratic message. Trump has asserted, “I don’t think they (Democrats) have realized the country.” According to him, the Republican Party has become the party of “common sense”. Not only did he win the popular mandate this time, but Republicans would also control both the US House of Representatives and the Senate.
‘bring it back’
Trump feels that his assessment of the public mood is correct and so he is making it clear in his interviews that he wants to take his agenda forward. However, the tone in his interviews is soft and gentle and he talks about uniting the country by working to ensure its success. In his words: “I really want to make my country successful. I’m not looking to go back to the past. I want to make my country successful. Revenge will come through success. If we can make our success – their country successful, that would be my greatest achievement – that would be a huge achievement. bring it back.”
But he has also talked about the possibility that his former political opponents, such as Liz Cheney, could face prison. He also outlined that he believed the “vast majority” of the approximately 1,200 people who have either pleaded guilty or been found guilty at trial of crimes related to the January 6 attack should Should not be in jail. He will begin reviewing potential pardons “in the first hours” of taking office.
immigrants main target
Immigration seems to be his main priority, with illegal immigration he has described as “an invasion of our country”, requiring the use of the military as well as the National Guard and local law enforcement in deportation procedures, Which can be legally challenging. He is threatening countries willing to take back immigrants with tariffs, and insisting that “if they don’t take them back, we will not trade with those countries, and we will Will impose very high tariffs”. Trump has also reiterated his campaign pledge to end birthright citizenship, which is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, and hinted that he may try to overturn this right through executive action.
Other domestic issues that have emerged as important to Trump in the early days of his administration are managing high inflation, reviving the US oil industry (“Drill, baby, drill”), and downsizing the federal Department of Education and Transferring most responsibilities. To state governments. Trump is calling for “virtually shutting down the Department of Education in Washington,” which would require congressional consent.
An ‘agreement’ on Ukraine
Even on the foreign policy front, he is making the dividing line with his predecessor very clear. He expressed his “strong” disagreement with the Biden administration’s policy of allowing Ukraine to use US-provided long-range weapons, known as Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, to strike deep into Russian territory. underlined, arguing that this policy was “simply escalating this war and making it worse”. He continues to suggest that he does not intend to leave Ukraine. But for Trump the way to do this is to reach an agreement, because the war is a “tragedy” with a “shocking” number of people killed on both sides of the conflict.
On the Middle East, he has something new to say. In his previous term, he had called for a “realistic two-state solution”, but now he seems to suggest that he supports “whatever solution we can make to get to peace”, that “two- There are other considerations besides the state.” In a surprising assessment, he said he wanted “a long-term peace, a peace where we don’t get October 7 in the next three years. And there are many ways you can do it. You can do it two-position, but it can be done a number of ways.” It’s open to interpretation in many ways, and perhaps that was Trump’s intention.
keep it straight
And finally, tariffs remain Trump’s favorite tool of statecraft. He intends to continue targeting America’s three largest trading partners—Mexico, Canada, and China—with tariffs, although interestingly he has also said he “cannot guarantee” that tariffs will protect Americans. There will be no increase in the prices of goods. ,
Trump’s priorities are clear and his agenda is beginning to take shape. His nomination is also final. Apart from Matt Gaetz, Trump has stood by most of his nominees despite some Senate murmurings. As the year comes to a close, the Trump phenomenon is once again beginning to reshape America, and with it the wider world – for good or bad, only time will tell.
(Harsh V Pant is vice president of studies at the Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi.)
Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author
