Trump 2.0: Have you considered this? Achieving the 'Impossible' Together!

Donald John Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday. Soon after taking the oath as president, he said he was returning as the 47th president “confident and optimistic” and that “a thrilling new era of national success” had begun. “A tide of change is sweeping the country. Sunlight is pouring over the entire world, and America has the chance to seize this opportunity like never before.”

‘The rest of the world will envy us’Trump vowed at his inaugural Address that he would end weaponization of the Justice Department and stated, “The scales of justice will be rebalanced. The vicious, violent and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and government will end.”

‘I assure every American that I will always put ‘America First’, said Trump. “There will be sweeping changes, starting with the vicious weaponization of the Justice Department. From this moment on, America’s decline globally is over’.

Kenny Holston of The New York Times via AP, Pool, quotes Trump as saying that his “proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier,” as he continues his inaugural address.

He said, “Like in 2017, we will again build the strongest military the world has ever seen. We will measure our success not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars that we end. And, perhaps, most importantly, the wars we never get into.”

But, making his first major announcement, the newly elected President of the United States (POTUS) declared a state of emergency on the southern border of Mexico, which received a standing ovation from all Republicans and a few swing-state Democrats, including Reps—never mind 1960s singer Joan Baez’s ‘Jailhouse Trilogy’…“Luna was a Mexican, the law called an alien,/ He came across the border with a baby and a wife…”. Trump, incidentally, announced that he would deport “millions and millions of criminal aliens”.

Trump wants to deport millions of people who live illegally in the US. However, he had already warned Mexico and other countries—even Canada!—of high tariffs and other penalties if they did not stop illegal immigrants from crossing the border.

What Are Big Executive Orders?

Trump is poised to pass several executive orders and directives on Day One in his second term as president related to matters ranging from energy to immigration, including declaring a national emergency at the US-Mexico border—tackling such issues as immigration, energy, trade and social policies. Moreover, more than 200 additional directives are coming in the next few days. The orders are in tune with Trump’s main campaign promises, including starting mass deportations and putting a lid on border security.

“I’m pleased to say that, as of yesterday, one day before I assumed office, the hostages in the Middle East are coming back home to their families,” Trump added to a standing ovation from those present. Israel’s security Cabinet has approved a US-backed ceasefire deal with Hamas, which includes the release of hostages. The deal was delayed due to disputes with Hamas, but now it is moving forward

The Hamas-Israel ceasefire deal was mediated by Qatar and the US on Wednesday. However, Netanyahu said there were last-minute snags. But, in a significant move towards ending the 15-month-long war in Gaza, Israel’s government, on Saturday, approved the ceasefire agreement with Hamas (effect on Sunday, January 19, including a series of hostage exchanges)

Gulf of Mexico Is Now ‘Gulf of America’

Trump announced that he would rename the ‘Gulf of Mexico’ as the ‘Gulf of America’

Defining National Energy Emergency

On the energy front, Trump plans to declare a national energy emergency with the will to promote ‘affordable and reliable American energy’. His campaign promise, ‘Drill, Baby, drill’, speaks a lot of this for hiking domestic energy production

The Issue of Energy Development in Alaska

Trump will issue an EO making energy development in Alaska a top priority, emphasising the state’s strategic importance to national security and its potential to become a key hub for LNG exports

Additionally, reports suggest Trump may withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreement once again and take aim at policies supporting electric vehicles

The Issue of Trade and Tariffs

More actions may be imposing tariffs on global battery materials, rolling back environmental regulations and revoking California’s stricter emissions standards. Trump has his trade agenda planned out—clear and direct—with his US agencies reviewing trade relationships with such countries as China, Canada and Mexico. The US has planned immediate new tariffs, but the review could lead to significant changes

Trump has proposed tariffs of 10% on global imports—that is 60% on Chinese goods and 25% on Canadian and Mexican products—arguing these measures could spur US economic growth. Critics, however, warn that such moves may increase consumer costs

Views On Transgengender Rights

As part of a series of executive orders, Trump plans to issue an order defining only two genders strictly as male and female, effectively ending policies that recognize transgender identities in federal government practices. Trump also intends to ban transgender individuals from serving in the military, being recognized in US schools and participating in women’s sports

Pardons That Trump Expects to Give

Trump plans to ‘pardon’ people who have been charged, or even convicted, for being involved in the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021—a violent attack in which an unruly mob barged into the lawns of the Capitol to disrupt Congress’s validation of the 2020 poll results. Trump wowed the crowd with so-called ‘baseless’ remarks of poll fraud at a rally earlier that day. However, he denied any responsibility for the violence that ensued.

By focusing on these sweeping changes across key policy areas, Trump’s Administration aims to rapidly implement its agenda from Day One.

And These Were Trump’s Last Words

And Trump’s last words were that he wanted to send US astronauts to Mars. “(We) will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars and plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars”, he added.

(The author of this article is an award-winning Science Writer and a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can reach him at: girishlinganna@gmail.com)

(Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own and do not reflect those of DNA)