On November 19, 2024, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump was seen attending a SpaceX Starship rocket launch in Brownsville, Texas. Captured by Reuters through the lens of Brandon Bell, this moment highlighted a significant event in Trump’s post-campaign journey.
Having campaigned vigorously over the past two years, Trump stood firm on more than a dozen ambitious plans he intends to action upon assuming the presidency. His extensive day-one agenda includes proposals for the large-scale deportation of undocumented migrants, implementing drastic tariffs that economists caution could disrupt the U.S. economy, and the potential pardoning of individuals charged in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Reflecting on his previous term, Trump’s immediate actions included just one executive order targeting Obamacare. Yet, this time around, his promises seem notably broader.
Immigration
Initiating a Mass Deportation Program
Trump consistently made immigration a central theme of his 2024 campaign, repeatedly committing to deport illegal immigrants. At a rally just before the election in New York City, he vocally promised, "On day one, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history to get the criminals out."
In 2022, federal estimations put the number of undocumented migrants in the U.S. at nearly 11 million, though precise figures are elusive. By September, fewer than half a million of these individuals were reported to have criminal histories, as per a letter from Immigration and Customs Enforcement to Congress.
When queried about the financial implications of his deportation plan, Trump remarked to NBC News in November that the plan transcends concerns about cost. Furthermore, he affirmed a Truth Social post declaring his administration would be "prepared to declare a national emergency and use military assets" for deportations, stating, "TRUE!!!"
Abolishing Birthright Citizenship
The 14th Amendment ensures citizenship to anyone born in the U.S., but Trump is determined to change this, suggesting a complex legal challenge. During a December episode of NBC’s "Meet the Press," Trump confirmed his intention to end birthright citizenship on his first day in office with a resounding "Absolutely."
Reversing Biden’s Border Policies
Trump plans to promptly eliminate President Joe Biden’s immigration policies, declaring his first-day intention to "terminate every open-borders policy of the Biden administration." He also expressed his intent to reinstate the use of Title 42, a public health law used during the COVID-19 pandemic to expedite deportations. This law was phased out during a portion of Biden’s tenure and ceased entirely in 2023.
Democracy
Pardoning January 6 Defendants
Trump has repeatedly pledged to pardon individuals convicted of offenses during the January 6 Capitol attack. Speaking to NBC News in December, he mentioned his desire to consider pardons "first day." He further elaborated in an interview with Time magazine that he would focus on January 6 cases potentially within the first nine minutes of his presidency. At a press conference in January, Trump hinted at granting substantial pardons, particularly to those charged with violent crimes from the incident.
To date, over 1,580 individuals have been charged, and more than 1,270 have been convicted related to January 6. Some 700 of these defendants have sentences involving little or no prison time, making a portion of potential pardons largely symbolic in practical effect.
Only a few defendants remain in pretrial detention by federal judge orders, while others have been incarcerated post-conviction.
Foreign Policy
Ending the Conflict in Ukraine
One of Trump’s boldest claims is his ability to resolve the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office, or even sooner. During a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris in September, he expressed confidence, saying, "That is a war that’s dying to be settled. I will get it settled before I even become president."
Emphasizing his strong ties with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump believes his rapport with them is stronger than Biden’s. He stated at Mar-a-Lago that while he intends to meet with Putin to discuss resolving the Ukraine conflict, such a meeting is inappropriate before his January 20 inauguration.
Economy
Enacting Tariffs
Soon after his election, Trump declared he would impose a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, the nation’s two most significant trade partners, via an executive order.
On November 25, he conveyed on Truth Social his intentions to sign all necessary documents on January 20 to implement these tariffs, which he had previously advocated at 10%. Trump has often praised tariffs, calling them "the most beautiful word in the entire dictionary of words."
Economists warn that such broad tariffs could lead to higher costs for consumers. Alan Deardorff, a University of Michigan economist, told NBC News that these tariffs would function similarly to sales taxes, implying that consumers will ultimately bear the costs.
Rolling Back the Electric Vehicle ‘Mandate’
In 2021, President Biden initiated goals for zero-emission vehicles constituting 50% of new car sales by 2030, complemented by California’s target for all new car sales to be zero-emission by 2035. Trump has labeled these initiatives as "electric vehicle mandates," a characterization he challenges despite no legal requirement compelling specific car purchases.
During a November event in Houston, Trump reiterated his intention to annul "Crooked Joe’s electric vehicle mandate" on his first day in office.
Increasing Domestic Oil Production
Among Trump’s consistent campaign messages is boosting U.S. oil drilling. In a December town hall with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Trump noted he would not be a dictator except for "day one" to assert actions such as "closing the border" and "drill, drill, drill" upon taking office. Trump regularly maintains that increasing domestic oil output will significantly lower energy costs.
In anticipation, incoming press secretary Karoline Leavitt assured Fox News that Trump’s administration would expedite permits for drilling and fracking nationwide to alleviate living expenses immediately.
In 2023, U.S. energy production outpaced consumption by a record margin, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Revitalizing the ‘Made in America’ Auto Industry
Addressing a September rally, Trump stated that a vote for him signifies that the future of automobiles will be "Made in America." He envisions a future where the automotive sector is "fueled by American energy," "sourced by American suppliers," and crafted by American workers, pledging this on his first day in office.
Despite struggles in recent years with substantial layoffs by major auto firms, General Motors and Ford Motor reported record domestic sales since 2019 in January.
Transgender Rights
Restricting Participation in Women’s Sports
Trump has repeatedly targeted transgender women, referring to them as men and committing to prevent their participation in women’s sports. In his October speech in West Palm Beach, he asserted, "I will keep men out of women’s sports, 100%, immediately, first day." In the same address, he announced plans to sign an executive order defunding schools that promote "critical race theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content to our beautiful children."
Halting Gender-Affirming Care Practices
Trump has also opposed gender-affirming care, including hormone therapy, which the Biden administration supported through resources and guidance to ensure accessibility. In a February 1, 2023, campaign video, Trump declared an intention to revoke Biden’s policies on "gender-affirming care" from day one.
This comprehensive overview gives a glimpse of what to expect from the impending presidency of Donald Trump, encapsulating his planned policies and anticipated actions as he prepares to retake the White House.
