 "What will a second Donald Trump administration bring in 2025?")
As United States President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second term in the Oval Office, speculation abounds regarding the policies and priorities that his administration will pursue.
With promises of sweeping changes and bold actions, the former president’s ‘ America-first ’ agenda is aimed at leaving leave a lasting impact on the United States and its role in the world.
We take a look at what a second Trump administration could bring in 2025:
A hardline stance on immigration
One of Trump’s most vocal commitments is his plan to overhaul immigration policies. His press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said that the administration will prioritise securing the southern border through executive orders.
“We know he promised to sign an executive order to secure the southern border,” she told Fox News. This includes launching what she described as “the largest mass deportation of illegal immigrants in American history.”
Trump’s appointments signal his resolve to enforce stringent immigration measures. Tom Homan, a veteran immigration official, has been named the "border tsar," while South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is set to oversee homeland security.
Steven Miller, who shaped restrictive immigration policies during Trump’s first term, will serve as deputy chief of staff for policy.
The administration’s approach could include reviving the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which previously required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their claims were processed.
Additionally, Trump has vowed to end birthright citizenship , a principle enshrined in the US Constitution, though achieving this would require significant legal and legislative hurdles.
The legal challenges to these policies are anticipated to be significant. Advocacy groups and Democratic state governors have already vowed to challenge mass deportation efforts.
Moreover, logistical difficulties, such as the scale of deportations and the resources required to execute them, add layers of complexity to Trump’s ambitious plans.
Policy at home & Tariffs abroad
Economic reform remains a cornerstone of Trump’s agenda. He has vowed to tackle inflation through measures such as imposing tariffs on imported goods . “I’m a big believer in tariffs,” he told NBC, proposing a 10 per cent universal tariff on imports and a 60 per cent tax on goods from China.
Trump also suggested targeting Mexico and Canada with tariffs, warning of a 25 per cent levy if Mexico fails to address cross-border crime and drug trafficking.
The former president’s energy policy is equally assertive. Trump plans to expedite oil drilling, fracking, and other fossil fuel projects while scaling back clean energy initiatives.
“We’re drilling, drilling, drilling,” he told Fox News, criticising the Biden administration’s focus on renewable energy. This shift aims to lower energy costs for consumers and boost domestic production.
Trump’s vision for economic revitalisation extends to reshaping the regulatory environment. He has pledged to repeal environmental protections enacted under the Biden administration, arguing that these regulations hinder economic growth.
His administration also plans to fire Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler, who has pushed for stricter climate disclosure rules and strong cryptocurrency market enforcement.
In the realm of family planning, Trump has vowed to undo Biden-era changes to Title X, the federal family planning programme. This would reinstate restrictions on funding for organisations that provide or refer patients for abortions, effectively reversing policies that expanded access to reproductive healthcare.
Foreign alliance priorities under Trump 2.0
Trump’s foreign policy promises include withdrawing from international agreements and redefining alliances. His administration is preparing orders to exit the Paris Climate Agreement , asserting that the US should prioritise domestic energy production over global climate commitments. This move would further isolate the US from global efforts to combat climate change.
In West Asia, Trump has pledged unwavering support for Israel while promising to rebuild alliances in the region. However, his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains complex, with moments of both support and criticism.
On China, Trump intends to revoke its Most Favoured Nation trade status, restrict Chinese purchases of US real estate, and achieve economic independence from the Asian superpower. Regarding NATO, he has reiterated his critique of European countries’ contributions , stating that the US bears an unfair financial burden.
The ongoing war in Ukraine is another focal point. Trump has claimed he could end the conflict “in a day” by facilitating negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. While specifics remain unclear, he has criticised US aid to Ukraine, suggesting it risks escalating into a global conflict.
Recent reports indicate that Trump’s approach would involve direct talks with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, though the Kremlin has denied such plans.
Trump’s approach to trade policy marks a return to bilateral agreements and a rejection of multilateral deals.
He has promised to renegotiate the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and review other trade pacts, including the Korean-US Trade Agreement (KORUS). His aim is to strengthen US manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign imports.
Trump to wield his presidential pardon power
Trump’s legal battles and potential pardons for Capitol riot participants have drawn significant attention. While he has not committed to blanket pardons, he has told CNN, “I am inclined to pardon many of them. I can’t say for every single one, because a couple of them, probably they got out of control.”
More than 1,500 individuals were arrested in connection with the January 6 attack, with over 750 sentenced for crimes ranging from trespassing to seditious conspiracy.
Special Counsel Jack Smith, who has overseen investigations into Trump, is reportedly planning to resign before the president-elect takes office. This decision could preempt T rump’s pledge to fire him . Trump’s victory also enables him to pardon himself for federal crimes, though such a move would be unprecedented.
The implications of these legal maneuvers extend beyond Trump’s personal challenges. Congressional Republicans have signalled intentions to investigate the Justice Department’s actions under Smith.
The Trump administration’s ambitious agenda reflects a determination to reshape the nation’s trajectory across domestic, economic, and foreign policy domains.
As Trump himself declared, we’re going to “make heads spin.”
With inputs from agencies
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