The Second 100 Days
Will Trump’s second chance at governing include grand accomplishments or national failures?
By Roan Fair
The 100 Days
The history of the 100 days dates back to FDR who called a 100 day special session of Congress to accomplish his agenda. In this short period of time, FDR worked with Congress to pass 15 major bills.
Since then, Presidents have seen their first 100 days in office as their greatest chance at working with Congress to implement their legislative agenda. The ability to pass legislation is greatly strengthened when the House and Senate are controlled party of the president.
Trump’s first 100 days in 2017 centered on his “Contract With The American Voter.” The ambitious plan the 45th President’s first term included a call for term limits, repealing Obamacare, “draining the swamp,” and ending the illegal immigration crisis. Implementing his agenda was more difficult than Trump expected, however, and few of his initial goals were realized.
Trump’s Second Agenda
On January 20th, Trump will have a second chance at working with a Republican Congress to implement his new agenda. Throughout his campaign, Trump established boosting the economy and the immigration crisis as the top priorities for his next administration.
To fix the economy, Trump has proposed ending tax on tips and implementing tariffs on all good imported from foreign nations. While ending tax on tips is widely popular, tariffs could have negative implications for the American consumer. The “universal baseline tariff” suggested by the Trump administration would be a 10-20% tax on all foreign goods.
The incoming administration has announced that deportation of illegal immigrants will be a day one priority to combat the immigration crisis. When Trump enters office we can expect a flurry of executive orders which will strengthen border security and reverse immigration policies put in place by the Biden administration.
Support from the Hill
In November, Republicans were able to seize control of the House and Senate, which gives conservatives control of both Congress and the White House. The majority in Congress, however, is very slim.
The Senate is split 53-47 and Republicans in the House only have a 5 vote lead. The Republicans in Congress must be nearly unanimous in order to effectively legislate with such a narrow majority. Although newly elected Speaker of the House Mike Johnson appears eager to implement Trump’s legislative agenda, passing near unanimous legislation will prove difficult.
The first test of the majority has begun. Trump has already announced that he wants Congress to push through one massive bill that encompasses most of his agenda. The bill would cover a variety of issues ranging from immigration law and energy policies to tax cuts and trimming federal programs.
Outlook and Opposition
Accomplishing his ambitious agenda will require Trump to work with many critics in Congress from both parties. Democratic pushback is expected, but many Trump voters will be surprised at the opposition within the Republican majority as well.
The Senate will challenge Trump’s agenda the most. Trump’s outspoken critics—Senators Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Todd Young—threaten the 3-vote majority in the Senate. Winning over these Senators will be critical if Trump wants to pass any legislation through Congress.
The Second 100 Days will test Trump’s ability to rebuild coalitions within the Republican party. Rebuilding relationships after the events of January 6th and a campaign centered on expelling so called RINOs (Republican in name only) from the party will be very difficult for the President-elect.
Currently, Trump is not looking to mend his broken relationships but rather promoting a loyalty-focused administration. If he does not change his approach, it is likely that his Second 100 Days will be as unproductive as his first.
About the Author
Roan Fair is a History and Political Science double major at Grove City College. On campus, he is the Senior Articles Editor for the Grove City College Journal of Law and Public Policy, serves as a student executive for the BEST Robotics Competition, a high school program hosted by the college, and is the Vice President for the college’s Federalist Society chapter. Additionally, Roan serves as a TA for Dr. Verbois in the political science department. His interests include early American history, political theory, and the legal field. After graduation, Roan plans on attending law school and pursuing a career in private practice.
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the writer alone and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grove City College, the Institute for Faith and Freedom, or their affiliates.
Cover Image: Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash