After an intense contest between two radically different candidates – Donald Trump and Kamala Harris – Trump won the 2024 election and will become the 47th president of the United States. His campaign focused on promises to change key areas of the country’s life, from the economy and immigration to foreign policy and abortion. Here’s what to expect from the new presidency.
Economy: low taxes and energy independence
Despite steady economic growth under the previous administration, high food and housing prices were the main issues that influenced the election. Trump has promised to “end inflation” and reduce energy prices by opening up new areas for oil drilling, particularly in the Arctic. He also plans to reduce housing costs through restrictions on immigrants and the construction of new housing on federal land.
Taxes: cuts and reforms
Trump has announced the extension of tax cuts introduced in 2017, particularly for companies and wealthy Americans. In addition, he is proposing a corporate tax cut and the elimination of the taxation of tips. He also advocates the abolition of the social security tax, which should be a significant step in support of pensioners, but with potential consequences for the federal budget.
Immigration: building a wall and mass deportation
Immigration has remained an important issue for Trump since 2016, and he has promised to complete the construction of a wall on the southern US border with Mexico, as well as to carry out large-scale deportations of undocumented migrants. His plans include the removal of millions of people and restrictions on citizenship for the children of undocumented migrants.
Abortion: preserving freedom for the states
Trump has maintained an ambiguous stance on abortion since the Supreme Court’s abolition of the constitutional right to abortion in 2022. He supports the right of states to determine their own abortion laws, but does not plan to introduce a national ban. This position is perceived as an attempt to find a compromise between his conservative base and a wider audience.
Ukraine and NATO: negotiations with Russia and isolationist foreign policy
Trump has promised to “end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours” if he can reach an agreement with Putin. He said he would cut off funding for Ukraine and demand that NATO countries reach 2% of their defence spending. His isolationist policy aims to reduce US involvement in international conflicts, which he says is in America’s interest.
The war in Gaza: support for Israel
Trump continues to advocate for support for Israel and criticises pro-Palestinian sentiment in American universities. However, he has also stated that the conflict in Gaza would not have been so large if he had remained president.
Health: Medicare and infertility support
Trump has pledged not to abolish Medicare, but he remains critical of the Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law by Barack Obama. He has also expressed support for tax-funded fertility treatment, although this could be a contentious issue among Republicans.
Crime: fighting gangs and security
Trump has promised to fight drug cartels and take steps to “restore order” in cities under Democratic control. One of his top priorities is to support the police and reduce the number of “frivolous” lawsuits against law enforcement.
Environment: returning to a freer market
Trump has again promised to roll back environmental restrictions imposed by the Biden administration and support traditional energy resources, particularly oil and gas. He is opposed to energy initiatives such as electric vehicles and offshore wind farms, promising to reverse the targets set by the previous administration.
Donald Trump has thus won the presidential election again, promising to return the US to economic growth through tax cuts, a crackdown on illegal migration, and the restoration of traditional energy and foreign policy. However, his programme will face numerous legal and political challenges, and may cause significant internal divisions in the country.
