Trump seeks to remake America with a sweeping second act

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

The ceremony in the rotunda of the US Capitol, moved indoors for the first time in decades because of the bitter cold, will also mark the moment when he begins to be judged on actions rather than promises.

And he promised seismic changes as well as action on day one. At a raucous rally in the city on Sunday, Trump said he would sign a slew of executive orders within moments of taking office, covering issues ranging from immigration and deportation to the environment and transgender rights.

“You’re going to have a lot of fun watching TV tomorrow,” he told the crowd here.

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

Will we feel the tectonic plates of power shift beneath our feet when he re-enters the White House? Can he deliver on the sweeping reforms he promised? Will it be as apocalyptic as its detractors suggest?

If you listen to some of his detractors, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the skies will darken and the birds will flee Washington as soon as he’s sworn in.

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

But no one can deny that Trump, 78, has a clear mandate after his decisive election victory in November. He won the popular vote and the electoral college. He won a clean sweep of swing states. His program has the green light from voters.

This time, Trump is determined that his agenda will be carried out. He has a much more experienced and deeply loyal team behind him to ensure this happens.

He also plans – presumably with the help of Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency.” – rapid dismissal of a huge number of civil servants and officials.

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

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

But that won’t be a problem since he controls the Republican Party and its majorities in both houses. Senators and representatives are unlikely to oppose him in significant numbers. And he has Musk at his disposal to use his social media platform and vast wealth to push any rebel back into line.

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

There are undoubtedly logistical and financial obstacles, especially when it comes to mass deportations, but democratic opposition alone is unlikely to be enough to stop this. After all, the party is still reeling from its resounding electoral defeat.

There is internal strife as members perform a lengthy autopsy on this outcome. And the resistance movement that mobilized before Trump’s first term, which sparked days of nationwide protests after his inauguration that brought more than a million people to the streets, appears less vigorous this time around.

After his defeat in the 2020 elections. Trump was banished from social media platforms after the riot at the Capitol and his baseless claims of voter fraud. Those companies are already treating him differently this time as he prepares to be unveiled in the rotunda where his supporters roamed on January 6, 2021.

Prominent in the VIP viewing section will be a collection of the world’s richest people. Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg will be in attendance. So will the CEOs of Google, Apple and TikTok. It is the living embodiment of the ultra-rich “tech-industrial complex” that Biden warned about in his farewell address.

These men have already moved on to warm relations with Trump. ZuckerbergMeta’s abandons fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram, Bezos blocked the Washington Post (which he owns) from endorsing Kamala Harris. And they’ve all donated millions to Trump’s campaign fund.

Whether in Congress or in the corporate world, Trump is taking office this time with a warm welcome from America’s power brokers.

There’s little doubt that his slew of executive orders on day one will include some eye-catching moves designed to shake up his base. Like issuing presidential pardons for many, if not all, of the people convicted of the Capitol riot. His supporters will be thrilled to see the people they consider political hostages released from prison.

Trump will need a steady stream of populist moves like this. Because there is a risk that some of his plans are at odds with what some of his supporters voted for.

Many wanted lower prices after years of high inflation. But most economists suggest that tariffs on imported goods are likely to raise prices even more.

Mass deportations could lead to labor shortages in construction – complicating his pledge to build more houses – and in the agricultural sector, which could further increase food prices. And it looks like billionaires, not the working class, will benefit from the biggest tax cuts.

Eye-catching proposals, such as the promise to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of the United States, may excite many of those who put him in office. But it remains to be seen how many Americans will feel the benefit of his flagship policy.

Trump, however, is the ultimate political showman. His ability to entertain is part of his strength and appeal. But his second-term agenda runs deeper than mere showmanship and will be transformative if enacted.

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