Donald Trump is set to be the 47th President of the United States after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
Calling it a “magnificent victory for the American people,” the 78-year-old announced on stage with his family that he intended to “put the divisions of the past four years behind us” after narrowly winning key swing states necessary to claim the White House.
Heading into Election Day on November 5, the Republican and Democratic candidates were virtually tied.
But as polls closed nationwide, the margin of error (around 3.1 percent either way) became apparent, with Trump securing more votes in both his expected strongholds and the swing states needed to ensure he would occupy the Oval Office beginning in January 2025.
Following his inauguration, what will Trump focus on over the next four years? Here’s a look at the primary policies Trump and his campaign highlighted during the 2024 election.
Immigration
Trump has reaffirmed his commitment to building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, a major initiative from his 2016 presidency that remained unfinished after he lost to Joe Biden in 2020.
He has also hinted at using the Insurrection Act to enforce this plan, which would allow him to deploy the U.S. Army for border control.
Additionally, the president-elect has pledged to initiate the “largest deportation program in history.”
Under Trump’s strict stance on undocumented immigrants, up to 11 million people could face removal from the country.
No details have been provided on how this initiative would be funded. A report from the American Immigration Council estimated that deporting all 11 million people without legal status could cost $968 billion (about £751 billion). Trump has also revived his controversial “Muslim travel ban,” targeting several majority-Muslim countries.
“We will seal our border and bring back the travel ban,” Trump previously stated.
“Remember the famous travel ban? We didn’t take people from certain areas of the world. We’re not taking them from infested countries.”
Women’s rights
Trump appointed Supreme Court justices who played a role in overturning the historic Roe v. Wade decision, resulting in strict abortion laws across 20 states.
Referring to these laws as a “beautiful thing to watch,” Trump has said he will not advocate for a direct federal abortion ban.
During his campaign, Trump proposed providing free IVF treatment for women struggling with infertility.
Foreign policy
Trump frequently commented on the escalation of global conflicts since his 2020 loss to Biden.
Regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he has pledged to reevaluate the U.S. response, which saw significant aid provided to Ukraine under Biden’s administration. Trump has promised to end the conflict, though he has not outlined his approach.
Concerning Israel’s ongoing conflicts in the Middle East with regions such as Gaza and Iran, Trump has criticized Israel’s tactics. Additionally, he has threatened to revoke visas for foreign students in the U.S. who participate in protests supporting Palestine.
Taxes, the economy, and environment
Trump has claimed he will “end inflation,” although he hasn’t explained how he intends to do so.
He has suggested expanding the U.S. oil industry, a move he believes will “make America affordable again.” Trump also plans to halt offshore wind farms, asserting that they “kill whales and birds.”
Despite having called climate change an “expensive hoax” in the past, he has committed to clean air and water for U.S. citizens.
Trump has also promised to lower interest rates, although the President does not control or set them. He intends to increase taxes on imports while enacting tax cuts worth trillions of dollars, claiming these cuts will be offset by growth and revenue from import taxes. Trump has not addressed the potential impact of higher import taxes on goods from countries like China, Brazil, and Mexico, which could drive up prices across the U.S.
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