Less than a week away from the election day, the momentum of former U.S. President Donald Trump is slowly increasing, and if he wins the presidency for a second time after November 5th, it is anticipated that in the subsequent four-year term, he will reshape global trade through higher tariffs, once again reduce corporate taxes to bring significant momentum to the U.S. economy, carry out large-scale deportations of illegal immigrants, and reform the U.S. immigration system. Apart from these, what other agendas does Trump have in store?
According to media reports, here are some policies that Trump has promised to implement if elected.
Trump has proposed imposing a comprehensive 10% or 20% tariff on all goods imported into the United States and a tariff of over 60% on all Chinese goods. He stated that this move would eliminate trade deficits, but critics argue that it will lead to increased prices for American consumers and global economic instability.
Through the “Trump Reciprocal Trade Act,” Trump stated that tariffs are an important means to bring employment and wealth back to the U.S., boost economic prosperity, and reduce U.S. reliance on China and other countries.
If any country imposes a certain percentage of tariffs on goods made in the U.S., then the U.S. will also impose the same tariffs on them, Trump said, adding that other countries “will have two choices – either they cancel their tariffs on us, or they pay us hundreds of billions of dollars in tariffs, and the U.S. will gain absolute wealth.” This is to assist agricultural states and manufacturers in the U.S.
Trump stated that he should have the right to impose higher tariffs on countries that impose tariffs on imported goods from the U.S. He threatened to impose a 200% tariff on some imported cars.
The tariff policy is particularly aimed at Chinese goods to reduce the huge trade deficit between the U.S. and China. By revoking China’s Most Favored Nation trade status, imposing tariffs of 60% or even 100% to 200% on Chinese goods, gradually halting the import of all essential items from China, preventing U.S. companies from investing in China, and prohibiting any company outsourcing to China from signing federal contracts, Trump aims to restore U.S. economic independence.
In his second term, Trump plans to gradually halt the import of electronic products, steel, pharmaceuticals, and other goods from China. He will restrict or prohibit Chinese (Chinese companies) ownership of U.S. critical infrastructure, including energy, technology, telecommunications, agricultural land, natural resources, medical supplies, and other strategic national assets, stop future Chinese acquisitions of U.S. assets, and force China to sell any existing U.S. assets it holds.
Trump has pledged to significantly reduce federal regulatory laws, as he believes these regulations restrict job creation opportunities. He promises to maintain the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which he signed during his first term. His economic team has been discussing new rounds of individual and corporate tax cuts based on the 2017 Tax Cuts Act.
In the 2017 act, Trump already reduced the U.S. corporate tax rate from 35% to 15%. In his second term, Trump promises to further reduce the corporate tax rate for companies producing goods in the U.S. from 21% to 15%.
Trump has also proposed a series of tax-cut proposals for individuals, including canceling tax on tips for service personnel, canceling tax on overtime pay, canceling tax on social security benefits, and may even continue to reduce or eliminate federal income tax.
As the election day draws near, Trump has recently mentioned twice his interest in ending federal income taxes and stated that the U.S. relied on tariffs for federal revenue in the late 19th century.
In a segment on Fox News on October 21st, Trump visited a barber shop and talked to barbers and customers in the Bronx, New York, where a barber asked Trump if he could end federal income taxes, to which Trump replied, “If my plan goes through, we could.”
“When we were a smart country, back in the 1890s.… this country was as rich as it’s ever been relative to the world. It had all the tariffs. It didn’t have income tax,” Trump said.
Days later, during an interview on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast on the 25th, Joe Rogan asked Trump whether his talk of replacing federal income tax with tariffs was serious.
Trump replied, “Yes, of course, why wouldn’t it be?”
For his second term, Trump also promises to create a U.S. “Sovereign Wealth Fund” to invest in large-scale projects such as highways and airports.
He pledges not to cut medical insurance, social security benefits, or raise qualification ages.
Trump states that he will end the Democratic Party’s efforts to strengthen regulation on cryptocurrencies and will defend the largest cryptocurrency in the world, Bitcoin.
Trump will also establish an independent government efficiency team led by tech billionaire Elon Musk to eliminate waste of taxpayer money in the federal government.
Trump vows to reinstate his first-term policies regarding illegal immigration, including “Remain in Mexico,” to limit immigration seeking asylum illegally from the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump also pledges to initiate the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, starting with illegal immigrants who have criminal records.
To deport these illegal immigrants, Trump said he would use the National Guard, and if necessary, deploy federal troops to accomplish his goals, and he also does not rule out the possibility of setting up detention camps.
Trump will reverse Biden administration immigration measures, “fully ban Biden from releasing illegal aliens at the taxpayer’s expense, and criminally prosecute executive violations.”
Trump states that he will seek to end automatic citizenship for children born to illegal immigrants. Trump will sign an executive order, clarifying that according to a correct interpretation of the law, future children of illegal immigrants will not automatically receive citizenship. This order will end “birth tourism” and the subsequent “chain migration.” At least one of the parents must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident for their children to qualify for citizenship.
This is based on the clear meaning of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, that U.S. citizenship applies only to those born in the U.S. and “subject to U.S. jurisdiction.” Hence, the children of illegal immigrants “should not get (U.S.) passports, Social Security numbers, or be eligible for certain (U.S.) taxpayer-funded benefits,” nor should they have voting rights.
Trump will end “illegal immigrant welfare and stop Joe Biden from abusing parole.” This includes restoring “the ban on public housing for illegal immigrants” and terminating “all work permits for illegal foreign nationals.” Additionally, Trump will request Congress to submit a bill to “prevent any future president from abusing power to distribute welfare in this way.”
Trump states that he will rework a new travel ban, restricting individuals from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the U.S.
Trump has repeatedly mentioned his support for Israel in fighting Hamas, and recently held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump stated that the conflict between Israel and Hamas should be swiftly resolved. He will seek to expel all “resident aliens” in the U.S. sympathetic to Hamas.
As president, Trump will prevent the third world war and achieve peace by “dismantling war mongers” and the U.S. defense bureaucracy, reform and restructure intelligence agencies and other departments to eliminate deep state and prioritize the U.S.
Trump states that during his presidency, the U.S. will fundamentally “reevaluate the purpose and mission of NATO,” and he seek to “have Europe repay us for the cost of rebuilding weapons stored in Ukraine.”
During the 2024 campaign, Trump proposed sending armed forces into Mexico to combat drug cartels and using the U.S. Navy to blockade, preventing fentanyl and its precursors from being smuggled into the U.S.
Trump states that during his tenure, he will restore U.S. military strength fundamentally by providing “record funds” and by reviving the “proud culture and honor tradition of the U.S. armed forces” to address the “recruitment crisis.”
Trump suggests building an advanced next-generation “Iron Dome” across the entire U.S. continent – a massive missile defense system similar to that of Israel as a deterrence and defense against foreign missile attacks.
Trump will revive Department of Justice action against Chinese economic espionage in the U.S.—the “China Initiative” launched in November 2018 aimed to combat China’s economic espionage activities. Among the 28 cases brought by the initiative, four targeted Chinese professors, but none were convicted of espionage or theft. The “China Initiative” was terminated by the Biden administration in February 2022 in response to demands from a Pennsylvania university faculty.
In his second term, Trump will also request Congress to investigate the financial status of U.S. universities and the situation of Chinese donors.
Energy independence is crucial for U.S. national security, according to Trump, who promises to issue a national emergency declaration to increase domestic energy supply.
He vows to increase U.S. fossil fuel production by relaxing drilling permits on federal lands, encouraging the construction of new natural gas pipelines. He plans to reauthorize oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
Trump states that he will withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement (aimed at reducing global greenhouse gas emissions) and support increased nuclear energy production. He will also rescind the Biden administration’s policies to reduce vehicle emissions and mandates for the proliferation of electric vehicles.
During his first term, Trump appointed three Supreme Court justices who helped to abolish federal abortion rights by a 6-3 majority vote. Trump may continue to appoint federal judges who uphold abortion restrictions.
Simultaneously, Trump states that the federal abortion ban is unnecessary, and this issue should be left to the states. He believes that some Republican-supported six-week bans are too strict, and any anti-abortion legislation should include exceptions for rape, incest, and the mother’s health.
Trump states that he will not seek to restrict the use of the abortion pill Mifepristone. He also supports policies to promote in vitro fertilization, birth control, and prenatal care.
Trump promises to require colleges and universities to “defend American traditions and Western civilization” and remove diversity programs. He will cut federal funding for any school or program that teaches “Critical Race Theory” (CRT) or “gender ideologies.”
Trump states that he will instruct the Department of Justice to file federal civil rights lawsuits against schools engaging in “racially biased law enforcement” and give local officials the right to sue perpetrators of “Marxist policy as victims of injury and distress.”
In K-12 education, Trump will support allowing parents to use public funds for private or religious education. He will provide incentives and funding for states and school districts that abolish K-12 teacher tenure and adopt merit-based pay, reduce the number of school administrators (especially those responsible for “DEI” – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), and “restore parental rights” – allowing parents the right to control their children’s education, including authorizing parents and local school boards to select and dismiss principals and teachers.
Trump’s National Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said, “By increasing school choice opportunities, President Trump will empower parents to have a voice in their child’s education and support excellent teachers. President Trump will raise academic achievement for all students.”
Trump states that the U.S. will increase investments in law enforcement officers, strengthen protection of their responsibilities, enforce the stop-and-frisk law and existing gun laws, stop the public use of illegal drugs, and collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest and deport criminal foreigners. He said he does not believe federal statistics that show a “drop” in violent crime in U.S. cities.
Trump will direct the Department of Justice to conduct civil rights investigations into “radical left-wing prosecutors’ offices” in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco to determine if they engage in “racially-based law enforcement,” and to ensure which “victims of Marxist policies have the right to sue local officials for injury and distress.”
Trump vows to dismantle all criminal organizations, sentence drug dealers and human traffickers to death. He will deploy the National Guard to restore safety in cities where “law and order have completely collapsed.”
He will order the Department of Education and Justice to “completely revise federal standards regarding discipline of minors,” and through legislation allow the carrying of concealed firearms to protect citizens’ right to self-defense.
Trump also states that he will consider pardoning all individuals convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot.
Trump promises to open parts of federal land for large-scale housing developments, where the areas will be “ultra-low tax and ultra-low regulation.”
Trump suggests chartering the construction of up to 10 new cities called “Freedom Cities” through a competition on undeveloped federal land, similar to Israel’s “Iron Dome,” as a means of deterrence and defense against foreign missile attacks. This will revolutionize transportation by promoting the development of “vertical lift vehicles,” turning “forgotten neighborhoods into industrial beehives.”
Trump vows to lower the cost of living for families, especially the cost of building homes and purchasing new cars. He will request Congress to provide “baby bonuses” to help young parents.
Trump will ask the governors of all 50 states to modernize and beautify cities and public spaces, and “build towering monuments for our true American heroes.”
2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the announcement of independence. Trump proposes a year-long nationwide celebration of “Salute to America’s 250th,” starting from Memorial Day in 2025 and lasting until July 4, 2026, and a year-long “Great American States Exposition.”
Trump will sign an executive order to restore the U.S. Hero National Garden, commissioning artists to create the first batch of 100 statues. Trump will request U.S. religious groups to pray for the nation and people, “as we chart the course for the next 250 years, let us come together, recommit to being a nation under God.”
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