In 2015, Trump’s former ‘fixer’, Michael Cohen, had a phone conversation with Daily Beast journalist Tim Mak. Mak was writing a story about the fact that Trump’s first wife, Ivanka, had given a 1990 deposition describing in detail how Trump had violently raped her. Amongst other threats, Cohen told Mak, “I’m warning you, tread very fucking lightly, because what I’m going to do to you is going to be fucking disgusting.”
As we approach the unthinkable second Trump Presidency, many people I speak to—especially those who pay little attention to politics either here or in the US—seem blissfully unaware of what’s to come, so a brief summary would appear useful.
There are things Trump will certainly do and things he might do. The things he will certainly do include:
1. Giving an enormous tax break for the mega-rich. Last time, one of his early actions was to enact a $2 trillion tax cut (the vast majority of which—83% in some analyses—’went’to’ the richest 1%).
2. Massively increasing the national debt (he increased it by almost $8 trillion, or 39%, last time and will probably do so more this time).
3. Massive deregulation—reducing safety standards, environmental protections, food standards, and workers’ rights (to maximise profits for the few—the wealthy and the corporations).
4. Huge attacks on environmental protections. Last time, as well as withdrawing the Paris Climate Accord, he put a fossil fuel lobbyist who had previously sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in charge of the EPA! Who knows what he’ll do this time—maybe abolish the EPA altogether or certainly render it toothless against corporate might.
5. Accelerating the climate crisis by doubling down on fossil fuels (including through fracking) and ignoring the need to rapidly transfer to renewables and decarbonise. Trump promised his cheering morons: “On Day One, it will be ‘Drill, Baby, Drill!’” For this alone, he will be known by our children and grandchildren as a mass murderer.
6. Using the Department of Justice (DoJ) to go after his enemies, as it is acknowledged that, as an essential element of his malignant narcissism, he is primarily motivated by revenge. During his campaign rallies, Trump promised “ultimate and absolute revenge” and said he will be ‘the ‘retribution’ President. Vengeance will be his, and it will be shockingly appalling.
7. Pardoning the January 6th insurrectionists (who, after Trump’s urgings, violently attacked the Capitol building on January 6th 2021), including those who were responsible for the deaths of Capitol Police Officers. Indeed, Trump and his goon supporters will hold them up as ‘patriotic heroes,’ and they’ll soon be celebrities, guesting on right-wing ‘news’ programmes and hosting their own TV shows and podcasts. The cop killers will be venerated by those on the right. Talk about a transformed landscape!
8. Giving huge credence and support to white supremacist groups (the many dangerous US Neo-Nazi groups and militia, including those involved in the violent insurrection) and ideology. At the same time, expect attacks on organisations that fight for people’s rights and against discrimination.
9. Carrying out mass deportations, which will mean the separation of families, workplace raids, the necessity for mass detention centres, children in cages, and cruelty. The images will be shocking and the stories horrifying.
10. Revising attempts to ban entry to the US from majority-Muslim countries. Additionally, using the military to try to prevent entry to the US via the southern border.
11. Carrying out the majority of the ‘Project 2025’ agenda, including the abolition of the Department for Education;filling government positions with supporters of right-wing ideology; implementing the extremist Christian Nationalist agenda including attacks on women’s rights and roles; and making massive cuts to public spending (to pave the way for tax cuts for the rich).
12. Continuing to roll back the progressive gains of the last 60 years in terms of people’s rights, including continued attacks on women’s right to an abortion and new attacks on same-sex marriage, contraception, religious freedoms, and freedom of the press. Expect vastly increased censorship and authoritarianism.
13. Attacking US democracy: smashing the vital checks and balances on executive power; taking a flamethrower to the traditional separation of powers between the three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) and utilising them only to concentrate power into the hands of the executive. Attacking voter eligibility (for the poor, the urban, for people of colour, for the young) and the future of free and fair elections.
14. As he’s done already, appointing only ‘yes men’ (loyalists and sycophants) and a few ‘yes women’ to his cabinet and administration as well as to the top positions in the military. Experienced people who will have been the ‘only adults in the room’ will be replaced by Trump loyalists.
15. Vastly enriching himself and his family (as he did last time), including by nefarious and unethical means.
16. Lying. Daily. During his last presidency, the Washington Post kept a count of Trump’s ‘untruths’ (false and misleading statements), with each one documented. The final tally was 30,573, an average of almost 21 per day.
17. Golfing. Despite telling voters in 2016: “I’m going to be working for you. I’m not going to have time to go play golf.” Trump visited a Trump Organization property on 428 days (almost one day in three) of his presidency and is estimated to have played 261 rounds of golf (one every 5.6 days).
Here are just three things that Trump might do:
1. Pull the US out of NATO. Whatever one’s views of NATO, this could be destabilising and dangerous and a huge boost to Putin and any plans for Russian expansionism in Europe.
2. Bomb Iran (which, given Iran’s increasing closeness to Russia, could lead to WWIII). It was widely reported that Trump came close to war with Iran during his Presidency and, in his final days in office, asked for ‘options’ for bombing Iran. He was advised against it by sensible generals/advisors who will not be in place this time around (see 14 above).
3. Introduce significant tariffs on imports, which will lead to increased costs for US consumers and rising inflation.
This is absolutely NOT an exhaustive list! It is merely intended to forewarn and prepare people for the undoubtedly appalling, authoritarian, extremist, and dangerous shitshow that is about to be unleashed. Indeed, there is one more certainty: that there will be an avalanche of lies and unhinged and appalling actions (on an almost daily basis) that are impossible to specify in advance but will certainly come based upon his last presidency.
It is now well documented that two Military Generals—General Mark Milley, who was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the last 15 months of the Trump Presidency, and General John Kelly, who spent 17 months as Trump’s Chief of Staff—have described Trump as a ‘fascist’. We are about to see the results of electing such a man, especially given that he has learnt from his first term to surround himself only with sycophants and given that the Republicans have control of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Supreme Court this time around.
People should be gravely concerned and also prepared. Putting aside fears for the rest of humanity, there is little doubt that America will be changed forever. To paraphrase his former fixer, what Trump’s going to do to you is going to be fucking disgusting.
