Trump Against Everyone
Trump Against Everyone
In the first exclusive interview after the November victory, Donald Trump outlines the future governance and foreign policy of the White House. President-elect Donald Trump will head to the White House on January 20th, but he already has clear ideas for his administration’s next agenda.
In an exclusive interview, his first since re-election, the billionaire previewed his plans. This interview was broadcast on NBC’s Meet the Press.
First and foremost, the president-elect has promised to end birthright citizenship, the right to American citizenship for anyone born in the United States.
He said, ‘We have to end it. It’s unbelievable,’ without explaining how he intends to overcome the anticipated obstacles that may arise, as this principle is enshrined in the Constitution.
Additionally, he reaffirmed his plans for the mass deportation of illegal immigrants living in the United States, including those whose families are U.S. citizens.
He said, ‘I don’t want to break up families, so the only way is to keep them together and then send them all back to their country.’
Trump, who has appointed Tom Homan to oversee border policies, suggested he would work with Democrats to help those known as Dreamers, immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and are part of DACA, a federal program created in 2012 under Obama’s presidency, to stay in the country. In a face-to-face meeting with Kristen Welker, the billionaire also stated his intention to pardon those involved in the Capitol Hill riot in 2021 and promised to issue several executive orders on economics, energy, and foreign policy from day one.
Tariffs as a Tool for Threats
Tariffs, as we know, are one of the cornerstones of Trump’s proposed economic plan, but he has said he cannot guarantee that consumer costs will not rise after tariffs are imposed.
He said, ‘I can’t guarantee anything. I can’t guarantee tomorrow, but I can say that just before the outbreak of COVID, we had the greatest economy in our country’s history.’
For several months, the president-elect has promised to impose general tariffs on all imports, a plan that leading economists have opposed, believing these tariffs could lead to a sharp increase in the prices of goods, which companies would then pass on to American consumers.
Other concerns that Trump has downplayed and raised again in recent weeks include his threat to impose taxes on imports from Canada and Mexico, two of the United States’ major trading partners, if these countries do not commit enough to curb the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs across the border.
He said, ‘Tariffs are a very powerful tool if used correctly, not only economically but to achieve things beyond economics.’
Is Trump Threatening NATO?
The president-elect has also set limitations regarding the Atlantic Alliance, stating that if other members do not contribute to defense costs, the United States might even withdraw.
He told the interviewer, ‘I will definitely consider this option if allies do not pay their bills and if they do not start treating us fairly.’
This is certainly not the first time Trump has made such threats, which he also repeated during his last presidential campaign. During his first term, the billionaire drew attention to the unbalanced participation in joint defense and demanded that all member countries allocate 2% of their GDP to this area.
Since then, participation has increased. Today, 18 countries are meeting their commitments and investing $380 billion, but not all countries have reached the 2% threshold.
It was predictable that Trump would raise this issue again, and the nomination of Matt Whitaker as NATO ambassador is moving in this direction. ‘Matt is a strong fighter and a loyal patriot who will ensure that U.S. interests are advanced and defended,’ President Trump said when he made the appointment official.
Ukraine: Reducing Aid to Kyiv
Trump’s entry onto the international stage is set to have a significant impact on the war between Ukraine and Russia. Even on this crucial foreign policy issue, the American billionaire continues the stance he took during his election campaign and, in response to a question about the possibility of reducing aid to Kyiv, he stated, ‘Yes, it is possible, probably, of course.’
A few days after this interview, during the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral after the fire that devastated it in 2019, Trump met with Volodymyr Zelensky in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron.
On his platform Truth, Trump wrote, ‘President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukraine want to make a deal and stop the madness,’ and reiterated that even if the United States remains the foremost superpower for the entire century, his priorities are now different.
He said, ‘There must be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations must begin,’ adding, ‘I know Vladimir well, this is his time to act.’
China Could Help, The World is Waiting
Finally, in an interview with NBC News, Donald Trump reiterated many of the points he raised in his past election campaign as part of a new hundred-day plan.
Although positive points were also mentioned, such as a possible legal solution for the issue of what are known as Dreamers, the tone of the discussions remained as expected.
Once again, the main question is the feasibility of the outlined policies. On one hand, it is true that the new administration will be stronger and more coordinated than the one that took office in 2017, and after the inauguration, the president could have a more united and homogeneous majority in Congress.
On the other hand, it is also true that the final results of the November vote significantly reduced his victory margin and confirmed the image of a country that remains practically divided into two parts. Awareness of this situation may help explain some of the minor openings the president has offered, although overall, the interview seems to have left more questions than answers.