Trump seeks to remake America with second radical act

Each new president begins a new chapter in American history. And when Donald Trump is inaugurated on Monday in a frigid Washington, DC, he will hope to usher in a new era for this country.

The ceremony in the US Capitol rotunda, moved indoors for the first time in decades due to the bitter cold, will also mark the moment when he begins to be judged by his actions and not his promises.

And he has promised radical change and action from day one. At a raucous rally in the city on Sunday, Trump said he would sign a series of executive orders within minutes of taking office, covering issues ranging from immigration and deportations to the environment and transgender rights. .

“Tomorrow you will have a lot of fun watching television,” he told the crowd.

But even if his presidency begins with a bang, there are still questions about what Trump’s second act will look like.

Will we feel the tectonic plates of power shift beneath our feet when he re-enters the White House? Will he be able to deliver on the sweeping reforms he promised? Will it be as apocalyptic as its opponents suggest?

Listening to some of his detractors, you would be forgiven for thinking that the skies will darken and the birds will flee Washington as soon as he takes the oath of office.

Many worry that he will try to govern as an autocrat and undermine American democracy. His predecessor, Joe Biden, deliberately used his last speech in the Oval Office to warn of a dangerous oligarchy of irresponsible billionaires forming around Trump and threatening the basic rights and freedoms of Americans.

But no one can deny that Trump, 78, has a clear mandate after his decisive election victory in November. He won the popular vote and the electoral college. He won a large number of swing states. His agenda has the green light of voters.

This time, Trump is determined to see his agenda implemented. He has a much more experienced and deeply loyal team behind him to make sure that happens.

He also plans – presumably with the help of Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” – quickly dismiss a large number of officials and officials.

Trump still believes there is a “deep state” within the US government that will try to thwart his agenda. Therefore, we can expect a much more drastic elimination of federal employees than would normally occur with a change in administration, and a much more politicized government machinery behind it.

Many of his plans, such as major tax cuts for large corporations and the very wealthy, will need legislation passed by Congress.

But that won’t be a problem, since he has control of the Republican Party and its majority in both chambers. A significant number of senators and representatives are unlikely to challenge him. And he has Musk on hand to use his social media platform and vast wealth to pressure the rebels back into line.

Is there anything to stop Trump from detaining and deporting millions of undocumented immigrants or using the justice system to attack political opponents he considers his enemies?

There are certainly logistical and financial obstacles, particularly when it comes to mass deportations, but Democratic opposition alone is unlikely to be enough to stop this. After all, the party is still recovering from its resounding electoral defeat.

There are internal conflicts as the members conduct a prolonged autopsy on that outcome. And the resistance movement that mobilized before Trump’s first term, sparking days of nationwide protests after his inauguration that brought more than a million people to the streets, appears less energized this time.

After his 2020 election loss, Trump was banned from social media platforms following the Capitol riot and his baseless claims of voter fraud. These companies are already treating him differently this time, as he prepares to be inaugurated inside the rotunda where his supporters roamed on January 6, 2021.

Prominently displayed in the VIP viewing section will be a collection of the world’s richest men. Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg will be there. So will the CEOs of Google, Apple and TikTok. He is the living embodiment of the ultra-rich “technological-industrial complex” that Biden warned about in his farewell speech.

These men have already established warm relationships with Trump. Zuckerberg‘s Meta is abandoning fact-checking On Facebook and Instagram, Bezos blocked the Washington Post (which he owns) from endorsing Kamala Harris. And all of them have donated millions to Trump’s inaugural fund.

Whether in Congress or in the business world, Trump will take office this time to a warm welcome from America’s power brokers.

There’s no doubt that his slew of first-day executive orders will include some flashy actions designed to excite his base. Like granting presidential pardons for many, if not all, of the people convicted of the Capitol riot. His supporters will be delighted to see people they consider political hostages released from jail.

Trump will need a constant stream of populist measures like this. Because there is a risk that some of his plans will be at odds with what a portion of his followers voted for.

Many wanted lower prices after years of high inflation. But most economists suggest that tariffs on imported goods will likely drive prices up even further.

Mass deportations could lead to labor shortages in construction – complicating his promise to build more houses – and in the agricultural sector, which could further increase food prices. And it’s the billionaires, not the working class, who appear to benefit from the biggest tax cuts.

Eye-catching proposals, such as promising to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, may well excite many of those who put him in office. But it remains to be seen how many Americans will feel the benefit of his notable policies.

Trump, however, is the quintessential political showman. Its ability to entertain is part of its power and appeal. But his agenda for a second term goes beyond pure spectacle and would be transformative if implemented.

His return to the White House will be dramatic and eventful, and its consequences will be felt around the world. It can change America in fundamental and lasting ways.