Trump’s “Five Promises”: Which Will He Begin With?
During his 2024 presidential campaign, former President Donald Trump made over ten promises about what he would accomplish on his first day back in office. His inaugural day plans are broad, touching on immigration, trade, and energy policy with potentially profound impacts.
Mass Deportation Program
Trump has consistently made immigration a focal point of his campaigns, pledging to initiate the largest deportation program in U.S. history on his first day. In a rally in New York on October 27 before the election, he stated, “On the first day, I will launch the biggest deportation drive in American history to remove criminals.” According to federal estimates from 2022, about 11 million undocumented immigrants reside in the U.S., with fewer than 500,000 known to have criminal backgrounds, as reported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Ending Birthright Citizenship
Trump aims to end birthright citizenship, a right granted by the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which gives automatic citizenship to anyone born on American soil. In an NBC News interview in December, when asked if this was still his plan for day one, Trump affirmed, “Absolutely.” Implementing such a change would involve logistical challenges and likely legal battles.
Pardoning January 6th Capitol Rioters
Trump has promised quick pardons for those convicted for their roles in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. In an interview with Time magazine, he said, “I’ll look at those convicted in the January 6 attack early on, maybe in the first nine minutes.” Over 1,580 individuals have been charged, with more than 1,270 convicted on charges ranging from illegal entry to seditious conspiracy.
Implementing Tariffs
Post-election, Trump promised to sign an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on all products imported from Mexico and Canada, the U.S.’s largest trading partners. On November 25, he posted on Truth Social, “On January 20, as one of my first executive orders, I will sign all necessary documents to impose a 25% tariff on all products coming into the United States.”
Increasing Oil Production
One of Trump’s most repeated promises is to ramp up oil drilling in the U.S. to reduce energy
costs. In a Fox News interview, he humorously clarified he’d only be a dictator for “the first day,”
aiming to “close the borders” and “drill, drill, drill.” His new press secretary, Caroline Levitt,
emphasized in a recent Fox News segment that this would be one of the first actions taken,
promising to “expedite drilling and fracking permits across the country to lower living costs
immediately.”
Each of these promises could have significant implications for American policy, economy, and
society. As Trump’s potential return to office looms, these pledges will be under intense scrutiny
for their feasibility, legal standing, and public reception.
