It’s safe to say Donald Trump dominated the 2024 Presidential Election, with 312 electoral votes—86 more than Democratic Representative Kamala Harris. He even managed to win the vote of six swing states, which helped him solidify his victory. So, now that America is anticipating (or dreading, depending on your perspective) Trump’s return to the Oval Office, the world is patiently waiting to see how he and his administration plan to tackle key issues.
Like all politicians, Trump is full of promises, but whether he’ll deliver on them is a different story. How the start of his presidency plays out could indicate how his policies and priorities shape our lives over the next four years, which is why most people are wondering what to expect in the weeks leading up to his inauguration in January. Even operators in niche markets, like casinos.com in the iGaming sphere, are wondering how Trump’s presidency might impact their operations.
The First 100 Days
Trump has been quoted as saying he’ll “make heads spin” after his inauguration. The 47th President-elect is set to dish out a whole lot of executive orders in just the first week, with policy experts and lawyers already drafting these orders as you read this article. One of Trump’s priorities is his signature immigration policy, which we’ll discuss a little later on.
Some of his expected priorities for his first 100 days include negotiating the multitrillion-dollar fiscal policy package for tax cuts he implemented in 2017, which will expire in 2025. He’s also looking to reduce corporate taxes even more for companies that manufacture in the US, get rid of the clean energy tax credit enacted by former President Biden, and continue his heavy reliance on tariffs, including those targeting US allies and adversaries such as China.
Trump’s Infamous Immigration Policy
Trump’s preoccupation with immigration policy will take up the brunt of his efforts, especially at the start. The heart and soul of his White House campaign was to crack down on undocumented immigrants through mass deportations and even using military force. With over 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country in 2023, this could slowly but surely cause plenty of social disruption and strain international relations, not to mention have a massive impact on certain industries that rely on immigrant labor.
While Trump and his Vice President-elect, JD Vance, have said this would be a gradual process, there is one perk to this conversation. With the priority being the deportation of violent criminals, America could potentially see a decrease in crime rates and better public safety. But it’s the broader implications of this approach that could be concerning.
International Relations: Redefining Alliances
One of the primary outcomes of Trump’s election is his decision-making regarding foreign policy. It’s no surprise that Trump is quite provocative when it comes to the language he uses. When discussing the tensions between Russia and Ukraine, as well as those in the Middle East, he has been vocal about the fact that there will be “hell to pay” when he assumes office.
He’s been extremely tough when it comes to other aspects of international relations too, with his America-first approach and aggressive stance against foreign adversaries. If we look at the dramatic changes in the US-Mexico relationship, along with threats of military action and imposing high tariffs, it could effectively destroy many of Mexico’s economic policies and disrupt US supply chains, ultimately causing a big potential fallout.
Turning our attention to China, we see that the incredibly high tariffs on Chinese imports could start a trade war. The US-China relationship is already on rocky ground, and this could lead to retaliation that hurts both economies. Trump has consistently had a strange and contradictory relationship with China. While praising Xi Jinping for his iron grip on the country, he has also pursued policies that sparked tensions with China. In light of this, we’ll have to see how his approach evolves once he assumes office.
Impact on Businesses
Trump has always been and will forever be a businessman, which is why his business background often shapes his approach to governance. In his first term, he demonstrated this through his Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, lowering corporate tax rates. He also reduced federal regulations to benefit businesses, addressed low unemployment, and worked to create an environment that would lead to greater prosperity for the companies of America. In his second term, the trajectory is looking no different, as he’s ready to renew those provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and is campaigning to reduce corporate tax rates even further.
The Overall Trajectory of Trump 2.0
Most people can’t help but wonder whether Trump’s return to office will produce a more polarized nation and exacerbate world divisions. We saw this with the 2017 election when the Democratic and Republican divide was more intense than ever. His policies and broader rhetoric produced a tumultuous environment, with politics on the lips of every American.
As we prepare for Trump’s second term, we can expect this to continue with his tough stances and bold claims. With so much at stake, plenty of significant changes are expected to happen in the country. After all, several promises made in his first term were not fulfilled as expected, such as the “build the wall” project and his plans to repeal and replace Obamacare. And whether they’ll benefit us as a whole or deepen the existing divide remains to be seen.