Hours before his second term…a closer look at Trump’s electoral promises

US President-elect Donald Trump pledged to take major and rapid steps when he returns to the White House on Monday, including launching a comprehensive deportation program for immigrants and stopping the war in Ukraine.
Here’s a look at his biggest campaign promises ahead of his second term.

Immigration is illegal

Trump promised to take a tough stance against the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States.
The billionaire Republican said during his election campaign: “When I am re-elected, we will begin the largest deportation operation in the history of America.”
He also pledged to end birthright citizenship, calling it “ridiculous.”
To achieve these goals, Trump is considering declaring a national emergency, which would allow him to harness the Pentagon’s resources.

Analysts also expect he will issue executive orders on other aspects of immigration policy, including potentially ending an app used by immigrants hoping to petition for asylum.
However, birthright citizenship is guaranteed under the US Constitution, and any deportation program would face legal challenges, as well as potential refusal by some countries to accept deportees.

Trade wars and tariffs

Trump has pledged to impose 25% tariffs on goods imported from Mexico and Canada — the United States’ two largest trading partners — as punishment for what he sees as the two countries’ failure to stem the flow of drugs and undocumented immigrants into the United States.
But is Trump really ready to unleash a trade war with the United States and tear up the North American Free Trade Agreement?
Some see this as a more provocative proposal to annex Canada to the United States, posing a prior threat to negotiations.

China must also prepare, as Trump has threatened to impose 10% tariffs on Chinese products, in addition to existing tariffs dating back to his first term.

Pardoning the Capitol stormers

The president-elect has indicated he may pardon some or all of the people involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol, when his supporters attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 election he lost to Democratic President Joe Biden.
Trump described them as “hostages” and “political prisoners” and said he would issue a large pardon for them, but it remains unclear how he will characterize cases involving violence against police officers.
More than 1,500 people have been charged with federal crimes in the deadly attack, and more than 1,100 of them have been sentenced.

Peace in the Middle East and Ukraine

Trump warned that “hell will break out in the Middle East” if Hamas does not release its Israeli hostages before his inauguration.
He quickly took credit when the Gaza ceasefire agreement and hostage release negotiated by the Biden administration was announced.
Trump also says he intends to quickly end Russia’s war on Ukraine, though it is unclear when or how he plans to do so.
After promising over the summer to end the nearly three-year-old conflict “in 24 hours,” Trump finally proposed a timetable spanning several months.

Repeal some climate policies

The president-elect plans to rescind some of the key climate policies adopted by the Biden administration, such as tax credits for electric vehicles that are intended to encourage the transition to a green economy.
Trump also wants to boost offshore drilling, though he may need to secure congressional support to do so.
The Biden administration had chosen areas of the ocean as protected areas in which drilling is not permitted.