Donald Trump wins US elections: From economy to Israel, here are his key poll promises
After a contentious election campaign, Donald Trump secured Wisconsin, clinching 276 electoral votes and surpassing the 270-mark needed to win. He is now projected to become America’s 47th president, making history as the first to return to the White House after being ousted following a first term in over 120 years.
In his victory speech at a rally in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump called for national unity. He said, “I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president, and your 45th president… I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body.” He added, “It’s time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us. It’s time to unite.”
When Trump was defeated by Joe Biden in 2020, the country was dealing with COVID-19 lockdowns and social and economic unrest. His campaign focused on restoring economic stability and law and order, issues that were his central messages during the election.
Here are Donald Trump’s key election promises
Economy
One of the 20 core promises on Trump’s campaign website is to “end inflation and make America affordable again”. While a president’s ability to directly control prices is limited, Trump has pledged to boost US energy production by opening areas like the Arctic wilderness to oil drilling, arguing that this would help lower energy costs, as reported by the BBC.
Additionally, Trump aims to reduce housing costs by restricting access to mortgages for some undocumented immigrants, deporting others, and launching a home-building programme on federal land.
Immigration
This issue tops Trump’s priority list, just as it did in 2016 when his “Build the wall” slogan dominated his campaign. Trump has vowed to “seal the border and stop the migrant invasion.”
He has also promised to carry out the largest mass deportations of undocumented migrants in US history, according to a BBC report. His vice-presidential pick, JD Vance, said that the administration would begin by removing one million people.
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Additionally, Trump plans to end citizenship for the children of undocumented residents, under a new policy proposal.
Abortion
This is the first presidential election since the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion in 2022, and Trump has struggled to maintain a consistent position. During the presidential debate, he said that he would not sign a national abortion ban into law.
Trump has repeatedly said that states should have the authority to set their own abortion laws.
In recent weeks, however, he has tried to balance a more neutral stance while avoiding isolating his conservative base. He criticized Florida’s six-week abortion ban, which led to a strong backlash, but also stated he would oppose a ballot measure in Florida that would establish the right to abortion.
Healthcare
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Among his top 20 priorities, Trump promises to “fight for and protect Social Security and Medicare with no cuts, including no changes to the retirement age.”
During his presidency, Trump unsuccessfully attempted to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law, which expanded insurance coverage to millions.
Recently, Trump called for taxpayer-funded fertility treatments, though it remains unclear if such a costly proposal has support from Republicans in Congress, as reported by BBC.
Trade
Trump ended the era of US free trade when he became president in 2016, and his tariffs on Chinese imports were largely kept in place—and even expanded—by Joe Biden.
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This time, Trump has proposed new tariffs of 10 to 20% on most foreign goods, with imports from China facing a steep 60% tariff. As part of his 20 core promises, he declared, “Stop outsourcing, and turn the United Stated into a manufacturing superpower.”
In his presidential debate with Kamala Harris, Trump stressed that he imposed tariffs on Chinese goods, and pointed out that the Biden administration has not removed them.
Trump has pledged to end the war in Ukraine “within 24 hours” through a negotiated settlement with Russia.
During the presidential debate, he said,”I know Zelensky very well, and I know Putin very well. “I think it’s in the best interest of the US to get this war finished and just get it done, negotiate a deal,” he added. However, he did not provide specifics on what concessions each side should make, and the Kremlin has said that nothing could be resolved in just 24 hours.
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On Nato, Trump believes that countries failing to meet the recommended 2% of GDP for defence spending should forfeit the protection that comes with membership.
Israel-Gaza war
Trump has positioned himself as a strong supporter of Israel, and has condemned pro-Palestinian supporters on US college campuses. However, he has occasionally criticised Israel’s handling of the war.
Trump said that the war would not have happened if he had been president, but he has not provided specifics on how he would bring it to an end.