Immigration Overhaul: Mass deportations & border control
Trump is poised to reinstate and expand his hardline immigration policies, including the largest deportation effort in US history. He intends to curb asylum access at the U.S.-Mexico border and may deploy the National Guard or even federal troops to help manage the flow of migrants.
Trump has also promised to end automatic U.S. citizenship for children born to immigrants, a policy that would require a new constitutional amendment. On top of this, he plans to dismantle protected legal status for certain groups, such as Haitians and Venezuelans, while attempting to secure protections for “Dreamers” (undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children).
Energy & Climate: Fossil fuels, nuclear, & Paris deal
Trump’s energy agenda includes ramping up US fossil fuel production, particularly in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He plans to ease regulations around drilling on federal lands and establish a National Energy Council to promote energy independence.
The now two-time President is also expected to pull the US out of the Paris climate agreement once again, while supporting nuclear energy and opposing electric vehicle mandates introduced by the Biden administration. Trump believes the U.S. needs a strong energy sector to remain competitive in industries like artificial intelligence, which require substantial power.
Tax Cuts & Economic Relief: Reducing taxes, slashing regulations
Trump’s second term promises to deliver tax relief to corporations and individuals. He intends to reduce the corporate tax rate from 21% to 15% for U.S.-based companies and extend the personal income tax cuts set to expire in 2025. Trump also proposes eliminating taxes on tips and overtime wages, which he says will benefit service workers. While he seeks to cut taxes significantly, critics warn that these measures could balloon the federal deficit unless offset by spending cuts elsewhere.
Education & Diversity: A push for traditional values
On the domestic front, Trump is focusing on reshaping U.S. education. He has pledged to remove diversity programs from colleges and universities, directing the Department of Justice to investigate schools that engage in racial discrimination.
Trump also supports school choice programs that allow parents to use public funds for private or religious schools. Additionally, he has floated the idea of abolishing the Department of Education and leaving education policy to individual states.
Abortion Policy: States’ rights & limited federal involvement
Trump has reiterated his stance on abortion, emphasising that the issue should be handled at the state level. While he supports the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, he has stated that a federal abortion ban is unnecessary.
Trump advocates for state-based abortion restrictions and has expressed support for exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and the health of the mother. He also backs policies that promote in vitro fertilization, birth control, and prenatal care.
Foreign Policy: Ukraine, NATO, & Middle East diplomacy
On the global stage, Trump aims to bring the war in Ukraine to an end—potentially in as little as 24 hours—though this would likely require Ukraine to make territorial concessions. He plans to reevaluate NATO’s role in modern geopolitics, with a new approach to its mission. Trump has named Marco Rubio as his potential secretary of state, signalling a tough stance on China.
The President-elect also seeks to advance normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a process he initiated during his first term, while staying out of the Syrian conflict. Trump has floated the idea of building a US version of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system and may seek military intervention in Mexico to combat drug cartels and the opioid crisis.
Law & Order: Investigating opponents
Trump has hinted at using federal law enforcement to target political foes, including election officials, attorneys, and party donors. He has chosen former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to be his attorney general and former national security aide Kash Patel to head the FBI, both of whom share his desire for retribution against critics.
Trump has said he will push for the firing of US attorneys who don’t follow his directives, potentially undermining the independence of federal law enforcement. He also promises to issue pardons for many involved in the January 6th Capitol attack and has called for jailing members of the investigative committee.
Federal Bureaucracy: Purging the ‘deep state’ & efficiency reforms
In a bid to dismantle what he calls the “deep state,” Trump plans to overhaul the federal bureaucracy. He intends to issue an executive order reclassifying thousands of government employees to make it easier to fire them, a move likely to face legal challenges.
Trump has proposed creating an independent efficiency panel, led by billionaire Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, to root out waste and inefficiency in the government, while also slashing unnecessary regulations that he claims stifle job creation.
