Trump 2.0 - The Plan for the Next Four Years

by Hila Mangal, LLB Law 09/12/2024

On Wednesday, November 6th, Donald Trump, following a felony conviction and surviving two assassination attempts, claimed victory in all seven swing states, winning the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Trump is the first convicted felon in U.S. history to assume the presidency.

Domestically, his proposed policies include mass deportations under stricter immigration laws, axing the Department of Education, and potential rollbacks on reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights. Internationally, Trump has pledged to secure an end to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. Here’s a closer look at his agenda and its potential impact. 

Project 2025 and Public Health - “Your Body My Choice”

"Project 2025", a 900-page blueprint crafted by the Heritage Foundation, details the policy vision for a conservative administration. The Washington-based think tank has focused on restricting the rights of women and minorities. Although Trump has publicly tried to distance himself from the project, his healthcare agenda aligns closely with its framework. 

In February 2024, Trump pledged that he "will sign a new executive order instructing every federal agency to cease all programs that promote the concept of sex and gender transition at any age." This threatens hard-fought transgender rights, stripping protections and endangering lives. Republicans reportedly spent $200 million on advertisements attacking the transgender community, intensifying fears of discrimination and violence. 

Abortion rights remain under significant threat. The overturning of Roe v. Wade during Trump’s first term, facilitated by Supreme Court justices he appointed, led to sweeping restrictions across the country. While Trump’s stance on the nationwide abortion ban is unclear - initially voicing support in March 2024 before advocating for state-level decisions - the greater concern lies in potential new restrictions on medication-based abortions. These restrictions could apply under all circumstances, even in cases when the pregnancy poses a life-threatening risk to the mother. 

Russia and Ukraine - resolved "in just one day"?

Throughout his campaign, Trump repeatedly promised to end the Russia-Ukraine war "within 24 hours" by negotiating directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, he has avoided offering concrete plans or addressing the complexities of the conflict, raising scepticism among experts and international observers. 

Trump has criticised the U.S.’ substantial aid to Ukraine, which has exceeded $108 billion since Russia’s 2022 invasion, and vowed to cut military and financial support. His administration is expected to push Ukraine towards a peace deal with Russia, potentially at the cost of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Within Congress, the issue of U.S. support for Ukraine remains divisive. While some Republicans align with Trump’s call to reduce aid, others support continuing military and humanitarian aid. 

Israel’s war on Gaza - a champion of peace?

Throughout his campaign, Trump has promised to “settle” the Israel-Gaza conflict swiftly, though specifics remain unclear. In October 2024, he reportedly told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “do what you have to do”, signalling strong support for Netanyahu’s hard-line approach. This comment has come under fire, with critics arguing it disregards the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where over 43,000 people - half of them women and children - have died amid the devastating onslaught. While Trump champions himself as a peace negotiator, such remarks highlight a lack of consistent vision for postwar Gaza and cast doubt on his ability to address the broader Middle East crisis effectively. 

Trump’s campaign rhetoric has also targeted Arab-American and Muslim voters, seeking to exploit dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s unequivocal support for Israel. However, his parallel calls to suppress pro-Palestinian movements on U.S. campuses and to reinstate a version of the Muslim ban reveal deep contradictions in his approach. 

Immigration Policy - A Hard Line Agenda

Trump has vowed an unprecedented immigration crackdown, including mass deportations, new detention centres, and expanded border security. His plans include ending “catch and release”, reinstating the controversial “Remain in Mexico” policy, and broadening the travel ban to target predominantly Muslim countries and block refugees from Gaza from entering the U.S.

The “Remain in Mexico” program, revived under Trump, has faced sharp criticism for forcing asylum seekers to wait in unsafe conditions as court dates remain delayed and infrequent, exposing migrants to severe risks. 

Education Policy - Extreme Reform

Project 2025 proposes eliminating the federal Department of Education, shifting full control to states, a move critics warn could deepen educational inequalities. While Trump previously sought to cut the department’s funding, he failed during his first term. 

On September 8th 2024, he declared, “We're going to end education coming out of Washington, D.C.”

The plan also aims to remove critical race theory (CRT) from school curriculums. Critics argue this undermines student's understanding of systemic racism’s impact on institutions, public policy, and economic opportunities. Trump claims the Department of Education is “indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political materials”, echoing claims by Project 2025 supporters. 

While the Heritage Foundation touts project 2025 as the “menu” to “America’s deepest challenges”, opponents say denying racism’s effects doesn’t erase the inequality.