President-elect Donald Trump unveiled his policy plans for his first 100 days in office, and gave clues about his direction that he will lead the country on matters such as immigration, regulations, trade deals, and defense policy.
“Whether it’s producing steel, building cars, or curing disease, I want the next generation of production and innovation to happen right here, in our great homeland: America — creating wealth and jobs for American workers,” Trump said in the two-and-a-half-minute video statement. “As part of this plan, I’ve asked my transition team to develop a list of executive actions we can take on day one to restore our laws and bring back our jobs.”
Trump promised to withdraw from negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, cancel environmental restrictions on shale and clean coal, have the Labor Department investigate federal worker visas and impose broad new bans on lobbying by government employees.
“On immigration, I will direct the Department of Labor to investigate all abuses of visa programs that undercut the American worker,” Mr. Trump said.
The first 100 days of a presidency is used as a gauge to see how effective the incoming President is. The guise of the 100-day concept was pioneered by Franklin D. Roosevelt when he took office in 1933. In the first 100 days the President is usually their most influential and powerful since they are coming off of a victory and their impact on Congress is usually at its height.
The first year is especially important for Trump because the Republicans hold a firm majority in the House, but Democrats will hold 48 seats next year in the Senate and could blockade his actions.
In the video, Trump did not mention repealing Obamacare or building a wall on the Mexican border, two of his most popular campaign promises. Unlike his items he talked about in the video, those two measures would require the approval of Congress and will be a much tougher sell.
It also appears that Trump will not “lock up” Hillary Clinton, a proposal he also mentioned while on the campaign trail.
“I think when the president-elect who’s also the head of your party … tells you before he’s even inaugurated he doesn’t wish to pursue these charges, it sends a very strong message, tone and content, to the members,” said Trump’s former campaign manager Kellyanne Conway told the hosts of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” She continued: “I think Hillary Clinton still has to face the fact that a majority of Americans don’t find her to be honest or trustworthy, but if Donald Trump can help her heal, then perhaps that’s a good thing.”
Trump is currently interviewing candidates for key members of his cabinet and filling out his administration.