Staff Reports
Donald Trump’s 2016 flagship policy of building a wall on the border with Mexico may be overshadowed by his legal troubles, but his new policy proposals for a potential 2024 run are worth examining. In his Trumpism 2.0 platform, Trump outlines a shift towards more aggressive trade wars and domestic cultural policies. His trade proposals include the Reciprocal Trade Act, which would allow him to impose tariffs of equal size on any country that places tariffs on the US. This could potentially strain relations with key allies and lead to retaliatory tariffs that harm the US economy. Critics also argue that broad-based tariffs would not necessarily lower the trade deficit.
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On the domestic front, Trump’s agenda focuses on law-and-order conservatism. He proposes a crackdown on crime, drug trafficking, and Mexican cartels, with ambitions to impose the death penalty on those involved in trafficking children or smuggling drugs. Trump also aims to address the issue of homelessness by banning urban camping and reinstituting mental institutions for those with severe mental illness. However, these measures may stretch the constitutional boundaries of the federal government’s role in managing state and local affairs.
In terms of fiscal conservatism, Trump’s platform takes a different approach. He pledges not to cut a single penny from Social Security and Medicare and remains silent on healthcare financing. His advisers suggest he may pursue an extension and enlargement of his 2017 tax cuts, which could exacerbate the growing federal debt. Critics argue that Trump’s economic policies lack a coherent vision for the economy and fiscal solvency.
Lastly, Trump aims to roll back regulations put in place by the Biden administration, particularly in areas such as emissions rules and fuel efficiency standards for vehicles. He also plans to revamp the bureaucracy and diminish the power of career federal employees in favor of presidential authority.
