President-elect “Donald Trump” has directed numerous criticisms at the outgoing administration of President “Joe Biden,” pointing to his ability to enact many changes upon his arrival at the White House on January 20, 2025. He has made various promises to American voters regarding topics and issues that concern them, ranging from the economy, immigration, and energy to foreign policy. However, in his recent meetings, “Trump” reiterated that he would not be able to implement some of the changes immediately, indicating his lack of control over these matters.
Numerous Promises
Throughout his election campaign over the past months, “Donald Trump” made various pledges regarding multiple issues. Below are some highlights of these promises:
Reducing Consumer Goods Prices: During his campaign, “Trump” expressed his opposition to the economic policies executed by the “Biden” administration, claiming they are the primary reason for rising prices of goods and food. He promised to lower various prices. After his victory, during a press conference in Florida, “Trump” stated, “We will implement a swift series of bold reforms to restore our nation’s full prosperity… and build the greatest economy the world has ever seen,” emphasizing his ability to manage the economy differently than “Biden.”
Tackling the Immigration Problem: President “Trump” promised throughout his campaign to tighten immigration and asylum processes in the U.S. and to enact “mass deportations” using all means available to him, including the U.S. military. He also pledged to continue building the border wall that he started during his first presidential term in 2016, arguing that illegal immigrants contribute to rising crime rates and prices in the U.S.
Boosting Fossil Fuel Production: During his campaign, the president-elect stated he would support the oil and energy industries in the U.S. to stabilize energy prices amidst global disruptions, indicating he would reverse many executive orders signed by President “Joe Biden” related to halting fossil fuel extraction and implementing wind projects on federal lands due to their impact on climate change.
Pardoning Rioters From January 2020: “Trump” confirmed that his primary focus on his first day in office would be to grant presidential pardons to thousands of Americans categorized as “rioters” for their assault on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2020, in protest of the election results affirming “Joe Biden” as the winner, claiming these individuals were unjustly sentenced.
Restricting Birthright Citizenship: “Trump” stated he would work to repeal the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which grants citizenship to those born on U.S. soil. This would be a priority for him, pointing out that this practice is not widespread in other countries except the United States.
Actively Contributing to Ending the Russo-Ukrainian War: President-elect “Donald Trump” affirmed that one of the first foreign policy issues he would address is ending the Russo-Ukrainian war, stressing it is time to stop providing Ukraine with more American aid funded by taxpayers’ money.
Supporting Factors
Several factors may enable “Trump” to implement some of his policies and promises, including:
Powers Over Immigration: Apart from using the military for immigration issues, “Trump” possesses other powers, as noted by one of his top advisors, “Jason Miller,” such as reactivating Title 42 and tightening restrictions on the southern U.S. border to prevent more illegal immigration, alongside expanding the “Remain in Mexico” policy for asylum seekers until their cases are addressed, a policy that was restricted during President “Joe Biden’s” administration.
“Trump” has a team expected to be confirmed in the Senate, comprising individuals who helped formulate immigration plans during his first term, such as “Stephen Miller,” whom “Trump” appointed as Deputy Chief of Staff, “Tom Homan,” the former Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and “Kristi Noem,” nominated for Secretary of Homeland Security. Discussions are also ongoing regarding enhancing legal immigration pathways, including expanding the H–2A visa, which allows seasonal agricultural workers to enter the U.S.
Possibility of a Radically Different Foreign Policy: The American president has the ability to act on foreign policy issues aligned with his vision and ideology. Congress can hold the president accountable or obstruct steps that might harm U.S. national security. However, regarding the end of the Russo-Ukrainian war, with a Republican-majority Congress supporting “Trump,” the president-elect may be able to swiftly bring an end to this conflict upon taking office.
Power to Issue Pardons: According to the U.S. Constitution, the president has the authority to grant presidential pardons to individuals he deems deserving. Many lawmakers—mostly Republicans and some Democrats—assert that the president holds this right and that there are no barriers to exercising it during his time in office, meaning that issuing a list of pardons for rioters would likely face minimal opposition.
Ability to Cancel Drilling Permits: “Trump” can revoke many executive orders preventing drilling in U.S. lands to boost domestic energy production. While this move may face opposition from climate supporters and environmental advocates, this dissent is unlikely to hinder “Trump” from issuing more drilling permits.
Detrimental Challenges
There are various obstacles that could prevent “Trump” from fulfilling some of his promises, including:
Inability to Control Price Reductions: Following his promises regarding price reductions, “Trump” clarified in an interview with “Time” magazine that lowering prices after significant increases is challenging, noting that he would strive to stabilize energy prices and supply chains in the U.S. However, achieving this requires substantial efforts on multiple internal and external levels. The tariffs he intends to impose on products from several countries could disrupt the market, potentially leading to increased prices for consumers and American producers who depend on importing goods.
Challenges in Using the Military for Deportations: Many lawmakers have expressed discontent with “Trump’s” promises to employ the U.S. military to resolve immigration issues at the border, arguing that this task is not within the military’s jurisdiction, as soldiers and officers are not trained for such a role. Instead, this responsibility primarily falls to border security and customs officials, in cooperation with trained law enforcement dealing with civilians, including immigrants. They view “Trump’s” military promises as a type of “militarization of the institution,” posing risks to U.S. national security. Additionally, “Trump” may face resistance from other nations regarding the reception of illegal immigrants being deported.
Conflict with Democrats and the Courts on Citizenship: “Trump” will encounter challenges changing or restricting rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Some Republicans suggest that the conservative-majority Supreme Court appointed by “Trump” will assist in modifying these rights, yet he will face opposition from Democratic lawmakers in Congress and Republicans opposed to the idea. Changing any constitutional amendment requires the approval of three-quarters of U.S. states and support from two-thirds of Congressional members. However, some argue that the president can undermine citizenship grants to children of tourists or foreign students born in the U.S., which the Supreme Court might support.
Anticipated Workarounds
In conclusion, it can be said that President “Trump” will undertake significant changes concerning various policies, whether economic, immigration-related, or foreign policy. This move will be bolstered by a tightly aligned team and a Republican-controlled Congress. Even if there are legislative obstacles concerning certain issues, “Trump” may navigate around them using executive orders or policies implemented by his upcoming administration.
