Donald Trump, the one-time President and now President-elect, has openly discussed his future plans for his new term starting soon in a television interview on NBC’s ‘Meet The Press.’ The world awaits with baited breath as to what Trump and his Vice President, J.D. Vance, have in store. Following his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris’ bid for the presidency, many interesting subjects were ventured, such as his intended approaches toward contentious aspects like abortion, immigration, tariffs, and his selections for administrative posts.
In the light of the recent Supreme Court resolution overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022, Trump is rightfully pleased with the outcome. Abortion turned out to be a significant issue during the 2024 election campaign, with Kamala Harris and Tim Walz advocating for broader access. Trump refutes the claim, saying unequivocally he harbored no intentions of imposing federal prohibitions.
Trump, having experienced the tumultuous legal proceedings of the hush-money trial earlier this year, was scrutinized on his plans about the infamous Jan. 6 Capitol rioters. Trump states he will observe individual cases for potential pardons, indicating a swift resolution, possibly as soon as his ‘first day’ in office. It seems a vendetta of sorts may be on the tables.
Reports of Biden trying to protect political allies from Trump’s reach by using pre-emptive pardons have been circulating. In response, Trump openly criticized the Jan. 6 committee, with Liz Cheney in the line of fire, suggesting serious events like these were a ticket to incarceration. The facts tell us otherwise.
Drawing further controversy, Trump holds fast in the face of criticism and supports his rather intriguing choice of Fox News host Pete Hegseth for the crucial Defense Secretary role, a choice not without its fair share of controversies. Despite the shrouded allegations and concerns regarding Hegseth, Trump glibly claims assurance from multiple senators extoling Hegseth’s virtues.
Adding another contentious appointment, Trump defended his pick of Kash Patel for the FBI Director’s role, a figure known for deep criticism towards the FBI. Trump’s disappointment in the current FBI Director, Christopher Wray, with three years of tenure remaining, was apparent. Kash’s entry signifies a probable displacement of an existing authority.
Wider speculations suggest Trump’s intent to target ex-President Joe Biden through Patel. Turning away from this narrative, Trump preferred focusing on ensuring the country’s success rather than revisiting past conflicts. However, he didn’t shy away from testifying his discontent towards Biden’s pardon for his son, Hunter.
Returning to domestic matters, Trump loudly expressed his disdain for Obamacare, even though a solid alternative is missing from his end. His critique remained firmly against Obamacare, without providing a constructive solution, save for some ambiguous ‘concepts of a plan’. Apparently, it’s more comfortable to disparage an existing solution than to present a better one.
Trump’s proposed tariffs on all products imported from America’s trade partners have ignited heated debates. When subjected to the opinion that these tariffs might inflate the prices of imported commodities, Trump stood his ground, glorifying tariffs as his panacea for economic prosperity. The sustainability of his belief, however, remains in question.
Emphasizing the importance of immigration, Trump declared his focus on revamping the current policies once he steps into the White House. His controversial changes include mass deportations, terminating birthright citizenship, and reintroducing ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy. Firmly insisting on the strict application of regulations, he aimed for the removal of all illegal immigrants, despite the harsh realities involved.
Regarding the Dreamers, young undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents, Trump mentioned a potential willingness to collaborate with Democrats on a solution. He seemed to express a tendency to allow them to stay, considering their long history and potential contributions to the country. Still, the consistency and sincerity of this approach are yet to be seen.