"Donald Trump took office recently with many plans on a wide range of topics. Here is a look on some of them" -- Aphrodite Avidon, Eighth Grade
Donald J. Trump took office on Monday, January 20th as the 47th president of the United States. His inauguration included performances from stars such as Carrie Underwood and Snoop Dogg. His cabinet officials, some of whom are very controversial, will be sworn in in the weeks following. Many political commentators and forecasters were successful in predicting that Trump would place a slew of executive orders on topics including mass deportation and tariffs in his early days.
Trump’s current immigration plans include deporting every undocumented immigrant as well as ending birthright citizenship, which makes children of undocumented immigrants citizens, while he also plans on imposing a 10% tariff on China. He could carry out many of the plans with executive orders, a way for presidents to get things done without congressional approval.
So far, Trump has signed executive orders closing the southern border to asylum seekers, as well as making the border crisis a national emergency. He also imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, declared that there are only two genders, and renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.”
In terms of immigration, Trump plans to deport all of the 11 million people in the United States illegally. This took action on January 7th when the House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act which passed with Senate approval on the 19th, would deport any undocumented immigrant who gets detained by law enforcement. Trump also plans to make it illegal for immigrants to take advantage of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), which 27% of immigrants rely on to get their healthcare.
Trump also stated in September that he would sign an executive order ending birthright citizenship and therefore making a child without at least one parent with an American citizenship undocumented. Many speculate that the order would face harsh legal challenges and many see it as a violation of the 14th Amendment, which states that “no state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States,” granting citizenship to everyone born on American soil. 22 states have sued Trump for the order, calling it a violation of constitutional rights.
Tariffs are likely the topic Trump most emphasized during a campaign, implementing a 10% one on Chinese goods. China currently makes about 20% of products sold in America, making it the largest importer of goods to the United States. He imposed a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods, as well as a 20% universal tariff on all imported goods. Trump has embraced tariffs in the past, but not nearly to the current degree, sparking threats of an international trade war.
Economists claim that the price increases will be passed on to the consumer and create further inflation, however, more right-wing sources claim that it will build back American manufacturing jobs.
In terms of climate, Trump seems to want to reverse Biden’s positions on climate regulations and his environmental work. Trump has mocked Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, referring to it as the “Inflation Creation Act.” Biden claims the act worked to create new American jobs by investing in renewable energy. Trump also plans to outlaw measures imposed by state governments, such as the requirement for all car sales to be of electric cars by 2035, imposed by California governor Gavin Newsom. He claims his interests are related to preserving the coal industry, rather than protecting the climate and reversing climate change, which he had referred to as a hoax.
His views are strongly reflected by his nominee for the Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright. Wright is the CEO of Liberty Energy, an oil company based in Colorado. Wright has also expressed doubts about the existence of climate change.
A key part of Trump’s 2024 campaign was his claims on election fraud in the 2020 election, claiming victory against Biden despite a lack of evidence. His positions are shared by many of his cabinet appointees, such as Pam Bondi, for the office of Attorney General. When Bondi was asked if she would pledge not to investigate individuals who Trump has threatened to investigate, such as Liz Cheney, Anthony Fauci, and Adam Schiff (whom Biden pardoned due to the risk of political prosecution), she did not directly answer the question.
Trump and Bondi have also given presidential pardons to all of the 1,600 people convicted of crimes involving entering the capitol on January 6th, 2021. The acts on that day have been referred to as a “day of love” by Trump, showing his support for the insurrection. Despite being indicted on federal charges in August 2023, Trump can not face penalties or go to trial for his actions, due to a Supreme Court ruling in July 2024 declaring that Trump is immune to legal prosecution for any acts committed during his term as president.
Trump’s plan to eliminate the Department of Education highlighted his education policy during his presidential campaign. Getting rid of the department is something praised by many Republican leaders who believe the department is a waste of money. Trump’s other plans include a ban on critical race theory and teaching about LGBTQ identity, both things that have fueled his claims about children changing their genders due to what they are taught in schools.
With these acts, Trump shows that he wants a clear reversal of the work the Biden administration has done, and a continuation of his first term, with many saying he has taken even further right positions on the issues.
Trump’s current immigration plans include deporting every undocumented immigrant as well as ending birthright citizenship, which makes children of undocumented immigrants citizens, while he also plans on imposing a 10% tariff on China. He could carry out many of the plans with executive orders, a way for presidents to get things done without congressional approval.
So far, Trump has signed executive orders closing the southern border to asylum seekers, as well as making the border crisis a national emergency. He also imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, declared that there are only two genders, and renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.”
In terms of immigration, Trump plans to deport all of the 11 million people in the United States illegally. This took action on January 7th when the House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act which passed with Senate approval on the 19th, would deport any undocumented immigrant who gets detained by law enforcement. Trump also plans to make it illegal for immigrants to take advantage of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), which 27% of immigrants rely on to get their healthcare.
Trump also stated in September that he would sign an executive order ending birthright citizenship and therefore making a child without at least one parent with an American citizenship undocumented. Many speculate that the order would face harsh legal challenges and many see it as a violation of the 14th Amendment, which states that “no state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States,” granting citizenship to everyone born on American soil. 22 states have sued Trump for the order, calling it a violation of constitutional rights.
Tariffs are likely the topic Trump most emphasized during a campaign, implementing a 10% one on Chinese goods. China currently makes about 20% of products sold in America, making it the largest importer of goods to the United States. He imposed a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods, as well as a 20% universal tariff on all imported goods. Trump has embraced tariffs in the past, but not nearly to the current degree, sparking threats of an international trade war.
Economists claim that the price increases will be passed on to the consumer and create further inflation, however, more right-wing sources claim that it will build back American manufacturing jobs.
In terms of climate, Trump seems to want to reverse Biden’s positions on climate regulations and his environmental work. Trump has mocked Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, referring to it as the “Inflation Creation Act.” Biden claims the act worked to create new American jobs by investing in renewable energy. Trump also plans to outlaw measures imposed by state governments, such as the requirement for all car sales to be of electric cars by 2035, imposed by California governor Gavin Newsom. He claims his interests are related to preserving the coal industry, rather than protecting the climate and reversing climate change, which he had referred to as a hoax.
His views are strongly reflected by his nominee for the Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright. Wright is the CEO of Liberty Energy, an oil company based in Colorado. Wright has also expressed doubts about the existence of climate change.
A key part of Trump’s 2024 campaign was his claims on election fraud in the 2020 election, claiming victory against Biden despite a lack of evidence. His positions are shared by many of his cabinet appointees, such as Pam Bondi, for the office of Attorney General. When Bondi was asked if she would pledge not to investigate individuals who Trump has threatened to investigate, such as Liz Cheney, Anthony Fauci, and Adam Schiff (whom Biden pardoned due to the risk of political prosecution), she did not directly answer the question.
Trump and Bondi have also given presidential pardons to all of the 1,600 people convicted of crimes involving entering the capitol on January 6th, 2021. The acts on that day have been referred to as a “day of love” by Trump, showing his support for the insurrection. Despite being indicted on federal charges in August 2023, Trump can not face penalties or go to trial for his actions, due to a Supreme Court ruling in July 2024 declaring that Trump is immune to legal prosecution for any acts committed during his term as president.
Trump’s plan to eliminate the Department of Education highlighted his education policy during his presidential campaign. Getting rid of the department is something praised by many Republican leaders who believe the department is a waste of money. Trump’s other plans include a ban on critical race theory and teaching about LGBTQ identity, both things that have fueled his claims about children changing their genders due to what they are taught in schools.
With these acts, Trump shows that he wants a clear reversal of the work the Biden administration has done, and a continuation of his first term, with many saying he has taken even further right positions on the issues.