What does a Trump presidency really mean for the US? Seemal Naqvi
After what feels like years, the 2016 US presidential election is finally over. But what does a Trump presidency really mean for America, and the world at large? It’s not entirely clear what exactly Trump will do once in the white house. Given some of his arguably radical proposals for future US policy, such as building a wall on the US – Mexican border, repealing Obamacare, or enacting a temporary Muslim ban, it’s hard to believe that he could really initiate some of his more out – there plans. Since America is poised to have Republican control in all three branches of government, with a republican majority in the house and the senate as well as the opportunity to fill spaces on the supreme court with whomever he chooses, Trump is in a uniquely strong position to enact as much of his manifesto as possible. Despite this, however, there are certainly restrictions on what exactly Trump will be able to accomplish, from constitutional issues to a lack of practicality concerning his proposals.
Already, he has altered his proposal of a Muslim ban, instead referring to the more constitutional suggestions of ‘extreme vetting’ of Muslims entering from certain countries and a refusal to admit any Syrian refugees into the US. He also has a plan to repeal Obamacare, which has granted over 20 million Americans with health coverage since it was initiated, and replace it with something ‘better’, though he has neglected to mention exactly what this something will be. It is likely that Trump will come under significant pressure from many of those who voted for him, as well as many republican congressmen and women for him to stick to this promise, but without a clear idea of how this will happen it is far from favourable for many Americans to be left without Obamacare.
Despite the very real possibility of Trump enacting these policies, building a wall on the Mexican border is one that seems far too impractical to actually happen. Given that Trump himself has been vague and contradictory concerning the details of the wall, as well as the Mexican president completely refuting the suggestion that ‘Mexico will pay for the wall’, one can say with relative certainty that a wall will not be built.
Regardless of the likelihood of these plans coming to fruition, the US has more pressing concerns for the moment. Namely, the appointment of Trumps cabinet and senior west wing staff. In the wake of the president elects repeated chants of ‘draining the swamp’ that is DC, his earliest appointments to his administration tell a starkly different story. With wall street insider Steven Mnuchin recently appointed as the Treasury Secretary in Trumps cabinet, despite his complete lack of political experience and seemingly non – existent political views, it is becoming abundantly clear that he was appointed for one reason alone – the huge amounts of money and personal loyalty he provided for Trumps campaign. It appears Trump is already diverging from the platform that won him so much working class support, instead favouring the very rich elites that he vowed to keep out of government on the campaign trail. Along with Mnuchin, Trump has also appointed Steve Bannon, executive chair of Brietbart news, as his chief strategist and senior councillor. Brietbart news, a far – right online news and commentary site has been known for its alt – right leanings and has been criticised for racism, sexism, xenophobia, islamophobia and anti – Semitism in the past. These criticisms have often stretched to Bannon himself and his appointment to senior councillor has been further undermined by his lack of political experience. Trumps actions as president elect alone are casting doubt on the ‘champion of the working class’ image that helped him win the presidency, as his promises to drain the swamp and keep bankers and the rich elite out of DC are already seeming to disintegrate. Thus, the likelihood of Trump voters having there no doubt high expectations of the anti – establishment, ‘agent of change’ president elect are already shaky at best.