Trump’s policies

By Team Thomas

Much to Consider …

Thomas is a politically independent mediazine that has been highly critical of Donald Trump and his behavior as a candidate in 2016, 2020, and 2024, as well as when he was the 45th president of the United States.

We do not agree with his bombastic embellishments, tendency to lie, and proclivity for skirting the rule of law in America.  It is our viewpoint, that if Mr. Trump would exercise more personal discipline, his policy pronouncements might have a better opportunity of advancing.  We leave it to the American voter to decide what is good and what is bad policy when the forces of misinformation, deception, and anti-democratic conduct do not run rampant in our society.

So, all things being equal otherwise, and where Mr. Trump stands on the issues when the other enraging behaviors are neutralized, how do we agree and disagree on the issues at hand?

If re-elected in November, Donald Trump’s 'America First' agenda, with its emphasis on economic nationalism, strong borders, conservative values, and skepticism of international alliances and agreements, would likely shape a second administration.

If re-elected, Mr. Trump’s presidency would likely be a continuation of his previous term but with more intensified efforts to fulfill his promises.  Here, we provide a breakdown of key policy areas based on his past positions, public statements, and campaign promises, along with our independent take on what we would support or oppose.

Economic Policy – Donald Trump wants to make the individual tax cuts from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent and is pushing for more tax reductions for businesses and individuals. His second administration would continue deregulation efforts to reduce what he perceived as unnecessary government oversight, especially in industries such as energy and finance. His trade policies would continue his "America First" trade policy, which includes revisiting trade agreements, promoting tariffs on foreign goods - particularly from China -and encouraging American companies to bring manufacturing back to the U.S.

The Thomas Take: We do not favor making permanent the tax cuts the wealthy and big corporations received from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.  We support replacing America’s broken progressive tax code with a fair flat tax that would avoid tax increases on anyone and would treat all individuals and enterprises equally.  We agree with Mr. Trump’s focus on deregulation efforts but oppose his tariff proposals, which we believe will only stoke the fires of inflation that have already bedraggled American families for too long.

Immigration – Donald Trump wants to finish the southern border wall between Mexico and the United States, ensure stricter border enforcement, increase deportations of illegal immigrants, prevent sanctuary cities, limit asylum claims, and end birthright citizenship, which grants automatic U.S. citizenship to anyone born on American soil.

The Thomas Take: We agree with ensuring stricter border enforcement, more permanent physical barriers, and monitoring technology capabilities at the southern border. We are opposed to sanctuary cities and would agree to better limit asylum claims and end birthright citizenship. We believe our immigration crisis needs to be managed by adopting a comprehensive immigration reform package that will end illegal immigration now but provide a predictable, reasonable path to citizenship for those who do come to the United States, respecting our laws and rules on how to do so.

Foreign Policy: Donald Trump favors increasing military spending, modernizing U.S. armed forces, and maintaining a strong nuclear deterrent. He has questioned NATO's funding mechanisms and pushed for allies to contribute more to defense. He may continue to push for more autonomy in international relations, including less intervention in foreign conflicts. Trump has maintained a strong anti-China stance. He would likely continue imposing tariffs, restricting Chinese influence on global markets, and addressing concerns over intellectual property theft and technology transfer.

The Thomas Take: We agree that military spending needs to increase so that we can modernize our armed forces and continue to maintain a robust nuclear deterrent.  We oppose weakening our NATO alliance and disagree with the 45th president on debasing NATO in the process.  We agree that the U.S.-China relationship needs to be carefully managed, but as mentioned above, tariffs are not the answer.  We live in a dangerous world that is getting dicier by the day.  Russia, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, and others pose a clear and present danger to the United States that we cannot afford to ignore by allowing our foreign and defense policy to become muddied or financially weaker.

Healthcare—Donald Trump has consistently advocated for the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, though specific plans for a replacement have been unclear. He has pushed for reducing prescription drug prices through negotiation, importing cheaper drugs from abroad, and improving price transparency in healthcare.

The Thomas Take: We are opposed to repealing or replacing the Affordable Care Act absent a better plan from Mr. Trump, which has been promised by both candidate Trump and President Trump to no avail.  Protecting Americans against pre-existing conditions is also a high priority for us.  We agree that prescription drug prices need to be reduced, and we firmly believe that Americans should not pay higher prices for their prescriptions than citizens in other countries where those same prescriptions are sold.

Social Issues – Donald Trump supports a pro-life stance and will continue efforts to appoint conservative judges to federal courts, which could influence abortion policy.  On the Second Amendment, Trump supports gun rights and opposes stricter gun control measures. His administration would focus on protecting Second Amendment rights through judicial appointments and legislation.  Trump also supports school choice initiatives, including voucher programs, and opposes critical race theory being taught in schools. He has pushed for a "patriotic education" curriculum.

The Thomas Take: We believe women have the right to make their own decisions about their medical care and favor restoring Roe as a national right. We are strong supporters of the Second Amendment but agree that some safeguards, such as red flag laws, are rational and wise. We oppose voucher programs for private schools and are deeply suspicious of Mr. Trump’s “patriotic education” curriculum.

Climate and Energy—Donald Trump supports expanding oil, coal, and natural gas production in the U.S., emphasizing energy independence. He has expressed skepticism about climate change and pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement during his first term. A second Trump administration would continue rolling back environmental regulations that he sees as burdensome to businesses, particularly in the energy sector.

The Thomas Take: We support continuing oil, coal, and natural gas production in the United States if we endeavor to make it even more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. Climate change, in our opinion, is not a hoax, but we do need to find mitigating solutions to our climate challenges that are not unreasonably burdensome to business, particularly the energy sector.

Judiciary – Donald Trump aims to continue appointing conservative judges to federal courts. His previous appointments shifted the Supreme Court significantly to the right, and additional appointments could further cement conservative judicial influence. Trump advocates for strong law-and-order policies, including supporting law enforcement, increasing funding for police, and taking a tough stance on crime, particularly violent crime in major cities. He has opposed what he views as leniency toward protests that turn violent, particularly in the context of Black Lives Matter and anti-police protests. Trump has emphasized the need for more robust responses to riots and civil unrest.

The Thomas Take: Our justices and judges should respect and follow the American Constitution, the U.S. Bill of Rights, and our rule of law.  We do not support appointing judicial officials with a political agenda to accomplish this.  We also advocate for strong law-and-order policies, increased funding for police, and measures against violent crimes in our communities.  Riots and civil unrest are to be prevented, but free speech that is not violent and peaceful should be permitted.

Big Tech and Media - Donald Trump has criticized big tech companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Google for alleged censorship of conservative voices. He may push for Section 230 reform, which shields social media platforms from liability for user content and possibly support antitrust actions against large tech firms.  He has been vocal about his distrust of mainstream media, referring to them as "fake news." He could continue efforts to undermine their credibility while promoting alternative platforms that favor conservative viewpoints.

The Thomas Take: We agree that Section 230 reform is justified and that antitrust concerns must be addressed.  Fake news, while not as prevalent as we believe Mr. Trump alleges, must be managed as it does undermine the American Constitution and our Bill of Rights if left unattended.

Voting and Election Integrity – Donald Trump has claimed widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. He has pushed for reforms such as stricter voter ID laws, limits on mail-in voting, and increased security measures for elections. He also supports curbing early voting and limiting same-day voter registration.

The Thomas Take: We do not agree that there was widespread voter fraud in the United States during the 2020 or 2022 elections. However, we do believe there was Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election that should never be permitted again. We believe voting in America should be more accessible and not more difficult, although we support the voter identification requirement. We are not proponents of curbing early voting or limiting same-day voter registration.

It would benefit America greatly if we could have a 2024 election focused more on the issues and crises facing our nation than those who have dominated the news lately through outlandish and irresponsible statements that negate good government.

Thankfully, this election will be over in just a few more weeks, and the American voter will have spoken.  We are confident that widespread voter fraud in this election will be absent again, just as more than 60 courts of law (many overseen by Republican- and Trump-appointed judges) ruled in 2020.