During President-elect Trump’s first term in office, the GOP was able to achieve a governing trifecta from 2017 to 2019, allowing them to push through much of their agenda. One of their most notable accomplishments was the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which implemented major tax cuts for individuals and corporations while reshaping the tax code. However, this was a divisive move as no House Democrats supported the Act. In the realm of healthcare, Republicans were unsuccessful in completely rolling back the Affordable Care Act (ACA) despite multiple attempts. They did manage to eliminate the financial penalty for not complying with the individual mandate, but the ACA still stood.
Another major goal for Trump was the construction of a border wall along the southern border. While Congress only approved a fraction of the $25 billion requested by Trump for the wall, he declared a national emergency in 2019 to reallocate funds and continue construction. By the end of his first term, approximately 452 miles of border wall had been completed. Trump also made significant progress in reshaping the federal court system by nominating a large number of conservative judges, including three Supreme Court justices – Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.
One of the few bipartisan achievements during Trump’s first term was the passage of the First Step Act in 2018, aimed at reducing recidivism rates and expanding eligibility for compassionate release for federal inmates. This legislation received support from both sides of the aisle and led to the early release or reduced sentences of thousands of inmates by 2022. Despite these accomplishments, Trump’s administration faced notable setbacks, including failing to completely repeal the ACA and only partially achieving his goal of building a border wall.
Looking ahead to Trump’s second term, the GOP is projected to retain control of the House majority, giving him another red trifecta in Congress. This will make it easier for Trump to pursue his agenda without opposition from a Democratic majority. Given the accomplishments and setbacks of his first term, it remains to be seen how successful Trump will be in achieving his goals in the coming years with a supportive Republican-controlled Congress. The landscape of American politics is constantly changing, and the balance of power between parties will play a significant role in shaping the direction of the country under Trump’s leadership.
