Trump wants to rebuild America with sweeping second act

Each new president begins a new chapter in American history. And when Donald Trump is inaugurated in frigid Washington, D.C., on Monday, he will be hoping to usher in a new era for this country.

The ceremony in the Rotunda of the US Capitol, held indoors for the first time in decades because of the bitter cold, will also mark the moment when he will begin to be evaluated on actions rather than promises.

And he has promised action on day one as well as massive change. At a raucous rally in the city on Sunday, Trump said he would sign several executive orders within moments of the inauguration, covering issues ranging from immigration and deportation to the environment and transgender rights.

“You’ll have a lot of fun watching television tomorrow,” he told the crowd.

But even if his presidency starts off with a serious bang, there are still questions over what Trump’s second act will be like.

Will we feel the tectonic plates of power shifting beneath our feet when he re-enters the White House? Will he be able to deliver on the comprehensive reforms he has promised? Will it be as apocalyptic as his opponents suggest?

Listening to some of his critics, you’d be forgiven for thinking that as soon as he takes the oath of office, the skies will darken and the birds will flee Washington.

Many worry that he will try to rule as a dictator and undermine American democracy. His predecessor, Joe Biden, apparently used his final Oval Office address to warn about the dangerous oligarchy of irresponsible billionaires forming around Trump, which threatens Americans’ basic rights and freedoms .

But no one can deny that 78-year-old Trump has a clear mandate after his decisive election victory in November. He won the popular vote and the Electoral College. They made clean sweeps of swing states. His agenda has got the green signal from the voters.

This time, Trump is determined that his agenda will be implemented. To ensure this, he has a far more experienced and deeply loyal team behind him.

He also plans – possibly with help Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” – Rapid dismissal of a large number of civil servants and officials.

Trump still believes there is a “deep state” within the US government that will try to thwart his agenda. So we can expect a change in administration and a far more politicized government machinery behind it to lead to a much more drastic purge of federal employees than is usually the case.

Many of his plans, such as major tax cuts for large corporations and the very wealthy, would require legislation passed by Congress.

But that won’t be a problem, because he has control of the Republican Party and its majority in both houses. A large number of senators and representatives are unlikely to defy them. And Musk has the power to use his social media platforms and vast wealth to pressure any rebels into falling back into line.

Is there anything that could stop Trump from arresting and deporting millions of undocumented immigrants or using the justice system to target political opponents he views as his enemies?

There are no doubt logistical and financial hurdles, especially when it comes to mass deportations, but Democratic opposition alone is unlikely to be enough to stop it. After all, the party is still reeling from its massive election defeat.

There is internal strife as members conduct a long post-mortem on that result. And the resistance movement that mobilized before Trump’s first term, leading to days of nationwide protests after his inauguration that brought more than a million people into the streets, appears less energetic this time.

Following his 2020 election defeat, Trump was kicked out of the social media platform following the Capitol riot and his baseless claims of voter fraud. This time these companies are already treating him differently, as he prepares to be inaugurated inside the Rotunda, where his supporters flocked on January 6, 2021.

Featured in the VIP section will be a collection of the world’s richest men. Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg will all be there. The CEOs of Google, Apple and TikTok will also do the same. It is the living embodiment of the ultra-wealthy “techno-industrial complex” that Biden warned about in his farewell speech.

These people have already moved toward cordial relations with Trump. Zuckerbergis abandoning meta fact-checking On Facebook and Instagram, Bezos blocked the Washington Post (which he owns) from endorsing Kamala Harris. And all of them have donated millions to Trump’s inaugural fund.

Be it Congress or the corporate world, Trump is taking office this time with a warm welcome by America’s powerbrokers.

There is no doubt that his executive orders on day one will include some attractive actions to appease his base. Such as the President issuing pardons for many, if not all, of those convicted in the Capitol riot. His supporters will be thrilled to see those they consider political hostages freed from jail.

Trump will need a steady stream of such populist steps. Because there is a danger that some of his plans are at odds with the votes of a section of his supporters.

Many people wanted lower prices after years of high inflation. But most economists suggest that tariffs on imported goods will probably push prices higher.

Mass deportations could lead to labor shortages in construction – complicating his pledge to build more homes – and in the agricultural sector, which could further drive up food prices. And it is billionaires, not the working class, who appear to be benefiting from the biggest tax cuts.

Enticing proposals, such as a promise to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of the United States, may excite many of the people who put him in office. But it remains to be seen how many Americans will benefit from his key policies.

However, Trump is the ultimate political showman. His ability to entertain is part of his power and appeal. But the agenda of his second term runs deeper than mere lip service and, if implemented, would be transformative.

His return to the White House will be dramatic and eventful, with consequences that will be felt around the world. It could change America in fundamental and lasting ways.