Trump's Platform

President Trump

​Donald Trump made revenge and retribution a central theme of his 2024 presidential campaign, raising serious concerns about the potential abuse of power. Here are the key points about Trump's platform of revenge:

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1. Explicit threats of retaliation: Trump has openly stated his intention to use the power of the presidency to seek revenge against those he considers political enemies.​

2. Targeting Joe Biden and family: Trump has repeatedly threatened to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate and potentially prosecute Joe Biden and his family for alleged corruption and crimes.

3. Focus on legal adversaries: Trump has indicated plans to go after those involved in his legal cases, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, Judge Arthur Engoron, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

4. Justification for revenge: Trump claims that the multiple criminal indictments against him are part of a conspiracy, which he uses to justify potential retaliation.

5. Increased rhetoric post-conviction: Following his guilty verdict on 34 felony counts in New York, Trump  became more explicit about his intentions for revenge.

6. Supporters' perspective: Some Trump supporters view his calls for retribution as a form of accountability rather than revenge.

7. Unprecedented nature: Political scientists note that Trump's explicit pledges to use federal power against political enemies are unprecedented in U.S. presidential history.

8. Social media analysis: A study of Trump's Truth Social posts revealed numerous threats of revenge, retaliation, and retribution against perceived enemies, including promises to investigate, indict, and imprison opponents.

9. Concern from allies and critics: Both Trump's allies and critics have expressed concern about his focus on revenge, with some attempting to steer him away from this rhetoric.​​​​​​

  >  How Trump Harmed our Country During His First Term ​​​​

​​1. Immigration:   Trump plans to launch a massive deportation operation, targeting millions of undocumented immigrants, potentially using the National Guard and federal troops if necessary. He intends to reinstate and expand policies from his first term, such as the "Remain in Mexico" program and travel bans on certain countries. ​

• He aims to reintroduce controversial law enforcement practices like stop-and-frisk and create "tent cities" for the homeless.

• He also intends to end birthright citizenship. 

>>  If implemented:  Trump's immigration plans could deal a major blow to the job market potentially triggering a recession. Deportations and stricter border control would significantly reduce the undocumented immigrant population in the U.S. This could lead to labor shortages in industries that rely heavily on immigrant workers, potentially causing economic disruptions. It may also increase costs for businesses and consumers. 

2. Trade:  Trump proposes implementing tariffs of 10% - 200% on most foreign goods, with potential increases for countries engaging in unfair practices. He aims to reduce reliance on Chinese imports and force Chinese companies to sell U.S. holdings that could threaten national security.

>>  If implemented:   Increasing tariffs on foreign goods would increase prices for American consumers and could spark retaliatory measures from other countries. This could potentially harm U.S. exporters and disrupt global supply chains. Reducing reliance on Chinese imports might boost domestic production but could also lead to higher costs and potential shortages of certain goods.

3. Government restructuring:   Trump intends to "totally obliterate the deep state" by stripping tens of thousands of career federal employees of their civil service protections, allowing for mass firings. He plans to reissue the "Schedule F" executive order to achieve this. He has also suggested implementing a new civil service test and cracking down on federal whistleblowers.

> > If implemented:   Stripping civil service protections from federal employees could lead to a significant turnover in government agencies, potentially disrupting operations and institutional knowledge. It might also increase political influence over traditionally non-partisan roles.

4. Energy policy:   Trump aims to boost domestic energy production, including oil drilling on public lands, and roll back Biden administration efforts to encourage electric car adoption. He also plans to exit the Paris Climate Accords.

> > If implemented:   Increased domestic oil drilling and rollback of climate initiatives would likely boost fossil fuel production and potentially lower energy costs in the short term. However, it could also slow the transition to renewable energy and may have long-term environmental consequences.

5. Education:   Trump has proposed eliminating the Department of Education, cutting federal funding for programs promoting "leftist" ideals, and establishing elections for school principals.

>>  If implemented:   Eliminating the Department of Education and cutting federal funding for certain programs could lead to significant changes in educational policy and funding at the state and local levels. Implementing school principal elections could dramatically alter school governance structures.

6. Law enforcement:   Trump plans to increase funding for law enforcement agencies and potentially use the National Guard to address crime in certain areas.

> > If implemented:   Increased funding for law enforcement and potential use of the National Guard could lead to more aggressive policing strategies. This might reduce crime rates in some areas but could also destabilize communities with historically strained police relations by escalating tensions. 

7.  Foreign policy:   Trump claims he will quickly end the Russia-Ukraine war and reevaluate NATO's purpose and mission. He also intends to take a more aggressive stance on China.

> > If implemented:   A reevaluation of NATO and a more aggressive stance on China could significantly alter international relations and potentially lead to increased global tensions. The impact on the Russia-Ukraine war is difficult to predict without more specific policy details.

8. Economic policy:  Trump plans to pursue protectionist trade policies, including tariffs, and aims to prioritize domestic production.

> > If implemented:  Trump's protectionist policies would likely have widespread negative economic impacts, reducing growth, eliminating jobs, and raising prices for consumers and businesses. The manufacturing sector, which these policies aim to help, could paradoxically be hurt overall by higher input costs and reduced competitiveness.

9. Social issues:   Trump proposes legislation recognizing only two genders and plans to restrict gender-affirming care.

>>  If implemented:  Legislation recognizing only two genders and restricting gender-affirming care would likely face legal challenges and could have significant impacts on LGBTQ+ rights and healthcare access. 

10. Legal actions:  Trump has pledged to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate President Biden and his family. 

>>  If implemented:   Appointing a special prosecutor to investigate President Biden and his family could lead to increased political polarization and potentially impact the functioning of the executive branch.

11. Executive Power: Trump’s agenda includes using federal law enforcement against political enemies and investigating political foes through the Justice Department. He plans to curtail the independence of the Justice Department and fill it with loyalists.