US election: Dictator “only on day one”: What Trump wants to implement immediately

Donald Trump made big promises during his election campaign. At rallies and on talk shows, the Republican spoke about what he wanted to do immediately on his first day in office as president. The 78-year-old repeatedly flirted with wanting to be dictator “only on day one.”

Of course, the US President cannot do whatever he wants. Parliament has a say on many issues, and courts can block or overturn measures. But there is much to suggest that Trump wants to make extensive use of his executive powers and test their limits.

No office in the Western world can hold a candle to the power of the US President. He can also intervene, at least temporarily, in policy areas that are otherwise reserved for the legislative function of parliament through decrees, so-called executive orders.

The concrete plans for Trump’s prioritized projects are only just emerging. It remains to be seen what he will actually be able to implement after his inauguration on January 20, 2025 and how he will go about it. What is clear is that many of his promises were designed primarily to get votes. A look at Trump’s announcements for “Day One”:

1. Historical deportation campaign

At almost every one of his rallies during the election campaign, Trump made it unmistakably clear that as president he wanted to deport irregular migrants immediately and on a large scale. “On day one I will launch the largest deportation program in American history,” he said in a memorable appearance at New York’s Madison Square Garden a few days before the election. The USA is an “occupied country,” he complained.

He equated immigrants with criminals who he would put in prison. When Trump was asked about the cost of his plan shortly after his election victory, he made it clear that he didn’t really care what it cost.

2. Expansion of oil production

“Drill, baby, drill!”: During the election campaign, Trump revived an old rallying cry that Republicans used years ago to promote increased drilling for oil and gas as energy sources. On his first day in office, he will ensure that oil production in the USA is expanded even further.

He also announced more concrete steps to repeal environmental regulations from the administrations of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. At a rally on the New Jersey coast in May, Trump said he wanted to block offshore wind power projects with an executive order on his first day in office, citing the protection of birds and whales.

3. End the war in Ukraine before taking office

Trump has repeatedly claimed that he could end the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine within 24 hours. At a campaign rally in Georgia in late June, he went further and said he could resolve the conflict even before he takes office. He didn’t say how he wanted to do that.

According to reports, there are now more concrete ideas in Trump’s environment: The Wall Street Journal reported that one idea is that Ukraine should forego joining NATO for 20 years and that the USA would continue to supply weapons in return. The plan also includes a demilitarized zone along the front. What exact plans Trump will ultimately pursue is completely unclear.

4. Lifting a ban on discrimination against trans people

There was especially a lot of cheering at Trump’s rallies whenever he promised to “keep men out of women’s sports” and to end the Biden administration’s “transgender madness.” On stage he made fun of transgender people.

Trump said on his first day in office he would repeal a ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools that the administration implemented earlier this year to protect transgender students. “We’re going to end this on day one,” Trump said on a Philadelphia conservative radio station show in October.

5. Pardoning violent supporters

Trump also promised during the election campaign to pardon supporters who took part in the violent storming of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 and were convicted as a result. “The moment we win, we will quickly review the cases of all political prisoners who were unjustly victimized by the Harris regime. And I will sign their pardons on day one,” Trump said at a rally in September . He also announced that he would take action against prosecutors who had pushed forward the criminal proceedings against him.