Trump’s second presidency: What he can and can’t do

From launching the “largest deportation program in American history” to ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, the US president-elect has made a lot of promises.

US president-elect Donald Trump will have a busy day ahead of him when he is sworn into office on January 20 next year.

When asked if he would target political rivals (which he has threatened to do in the past) or abuse his presidential power, Mr Trump declared he wouldn’t — “except for day one”.

“No, no, no, other than day one. We’re closing the border, and we’re drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I’m not a dictator,” he told Fox News about his plans.

Mr Trump’s national press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated there will be “tens” of executive orders in that first week.

Below we look at some of the policies and promises the soon-to-be US President campaigned on, and whether he will be able to enact them.

Donald Trump has a lot to do when he is officially sworn in as US president next year. Picture: AP Photo/Evan Vucci

DEPORT 20 MILLION UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS

Immigration policy was a big part of Mr Trump’s campaign to get re-elected. At a rally last month, he told the audience he would launch the “largest deportation program in American history to get the criminals out” on day one of his term.

“I will rescue every city and town that has been invaded and conquered, and we will put these vicious and bloodthirsty criminals in jail, then kick them the hell out of our country as fast as possible,” he said.

Mr Trump has also stated he would complete the border wall between the US and Mexico that began during his first term as president.

Becky Hager of Mesa, holds up a Trump campaign sign on a highway over pass on Election Day in Mesa, Arizona. Picture: Rebecca NOBLE / AFP

According to the Wall Street Journal, while it is possible for the president-elect to increase deportation numbers from its current level, this would require “tens of billions of dollars” to do so. Congress would need to approve and provide this additional funding.

Mr Trump told NBC News that there was “no price tag” in the mass deportations.

“It’s not a question of a price tag. It’s not – really, we have no choice,” he said. “When people have killed and murdered, when drug lords have destroyed countries, and now they’re going to go back to those countries because they’re not staying here. There is no price tag.”

CUT CLIMATE REGULATIONS

During his first term, Mr Trump pulled the US out of the Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change. President Biden rejoined the deal after taking office.

There would be no obstacle to Mr Trump withdrawing once again from the Paris Agreement, with a one-year notice given to the United Nations.

People participate in a car caravan in support of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on November 9, 2024 in New York City. Picture: STEPHANIE KEITH / Getty Images via AFP

According to the BBC, he has also vowed to cut regulations, promising to overturn Mr Biden’s targets encouraging the switch to cleaner cars, and has also vowed to increase production of US fossil fuels and cut energy prices in half.

With energy prices mostly driven by market forces and energy companies, this plan would be hard to get over the line.

END WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE

Mr Trump has previously criticised the Biden administration for providing Ukraine with funds in the country’s ongoing effort to fight Russia’s invasion.

“They’re dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And I’ll have that done – I’ll have that done in 24 hours,” the president-elect told CNN.

His national press secretary said Mr Trump would now be able to “negotiate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine”, which “includes, on day one, bringing Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating table to end this war”.

Trump has spoken to Putin and urged him not to escalate the war in Ukraine. Picture: Elijah Nouvelage and Alexander NEMENOV / AFP

It has been widely reported that billionaire tech tycoon Elon Musk joined a call between Mr Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the day after the presidential election.

With Ukraine dependent on funds from the US, Mr Trump may be able to make some leeway in the discussion of “peace” between Russia and Ukraine.

However, even though Mr Trump has a working relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, there has been no indication Mr Putin would be willing to stop his country’s invasion of Ukraine.

FIRE SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH

Special Counsel Jack Smith indicted Mr Trump over alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election and illegally mishandling classified documents by taking them to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Mr Trump said Mr Smith has subjected him to a “political witch hunt” and that “within two seconds” of taking office, he would fire Mr Smith.

Special counsel Jack Smith will be fired in “two seconds” of Trump taking office. Picture: SAUL LOEB / AFP

Since sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted, Mr Smith is already evaluating how to “wind down” the cases against the president-elect.

Mr Trump will return to the White House as the first ever president with a criminal conviction after he was found guilty of falsifying business records.

PARDON RIOTERS WHO ATTACKED THE CAPITOL ON JAN 6

Mr Trump has called the rioters who stormed the Capitol on January 6 2020 “hostages” and “unbelievable patriots” and has continuously stressed during his campaign that he would set them free “the first day we get into office”.

More than 1500 people were charged for attacking the Capitol in an effort to overturn the election results (Mr Trump lost to Mr Biden).

Supporters of Trump protest inside the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Picture: ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP

In order to “free” the accused, the president-elect would either enact a blanket pardon covering all the Jan 6 defendants or would pardon certain people or groups.

The US president has the power to pardon convictions so there is little anyone can do to stop Mr Trump from moving forward with this plan.

IMPOSE TAX CUTS, TARIFFS AND LEVIES

Mr Trump has vowed to “end inflation” and promised sweeping tax cuts, including making tips tax-free, abolishing tax on social security payments and drastically reducing corporation tax.

He has also proposed a 60 per cent import tax on goods from China and a 10 to 20 per cent tariff on every other U.S. trading partner. According the WSJ, some tariffs are as high as 100 per cent, 200 per cent or 1,000 per cent in other circumstances.

“Tariffs are the greatest thing ever invented,” he said at a rally in September.

After he becomes president, Mr Trump has the authority to impose these policies but there may be tensions with allies and trading countries.

ESTABLISH MEASURES ON TRANSGENDER ISSUES

One of Mr Trump’s campaign advertisements had the message: “Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you.”

He has vowed to ban gender-affirming care for minors, which includes medical, surgical and non-medical services for transgender and nonbinary people, as well as roll back Mr Biden’s action seeking to protect transgender students from discrimination in schools.

Detractors of president-elect Donald Trump protest against his policies in New York City on November 09, 2024. Picture: Leonardo Munoz / AFP

“We’re going to end it on day one. Don’t forget, that was done as an order from the president. That came down as an executive order. And we’re going to change it – on day one it’s going to be changed,” Mr Trump said of the roll back.

He also said he would cut off Medicaid funding for hospitals that provide gender-affirming care for minors.

However, medical care is regulated at a state level and any attempt by the federal government to intervene is likely to face legal challenges.

Originally published as Trump’s second presidency: What he can and can’t do