Election Day in America quickly came and went, leaving the country with a strong red wave in all branches of government for years to come. From the White House, to the Senate and the Supreme Court, the GOP now has a strong hold in Washington, allowing the sun to rise in Trump's new MAGA era.
Former President Donald Trump is set to become the 47th president of the U.S., the AP projected on Wednesday, making him the first convicted felon to occupy the White House. His victory also came after refusing to accept defeat four years ago, sparking a violent insurrection in the U.S. Capitol.
Trump's second term in office will likely be a smooth ride, as his plans are expected to be implemented by loyalists across all levels of government. His supporters say he is better prepared to wield and expand the powers of the presidency than in his first term, Axios reports.
Ahead of the elections, Trump allies were reportedly pre-screening the ideologies of thousands of potential foot soldiers, as part of an unprecedented plan to centralize and expand his power at every level of the U.S. government, Axios reported.
According to that report, thousands of Trump-first loyalists would be ready for legal, judicial, defense, regulatory and domestic policy jobs. His inner circle plans to purge anyone viewed as hostile to the hard-edged, authoritarian-sounding plans he calls "Agenda 47."
Axios also reports that the new government-in-waiting will likely be orchestrated by the Heritage Foundation's well-funded Project 2025, a 920-page policy book that took the center stage over the campaign cycle due to its far-right ideologies.
Trump himself has said he plans to expand drilling for fossil fuels, extend his signature tax cuts and support American-based businesses. He has also said he will oppose a national abortion ban.
But among his most incendiary policies lies on immigration, where he promises to enact mass deportations as soon as he enters the White House.
"He will restore his effective immigration policies, implement brand new crackdowns that will send shockwaves to all the world's criminal smugglers, and marshal every federal and state power necessary to institute the largest deportation operation of illegal criminals, drug dealers, and human traffickers in American history," Leavitt added.
Despite their plans, immigration and economy experts have said mass deportations could choke off the supply of foreign-born workers who hae been propping up the job market at a time when baby boomers are retiring.
"There very well may be valid reasons to adopt such a policy," economists Jay Bryson and Michael Pugliese from Wells Fargo told NPR. "But, side effects of a policy that restricts immigration and deports undocumented people likely would be upward pressures on labor costs and a detrimental effect on the nation's potential economic growth rate."
On Wednesday morning, Trump addressed his supporters in West Palm Beach, Fla., saying the voters delivered him an "unprecedented mandate."
"This will truly be the golden age of America," Trump said at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, surrounded by members of his family, campaign staff and surrogates. He also promised to "seal up the borders" and make America safer and more prosperous.
Beyond the White House victory, the GOP also won big in the Senate, flipping it back to conservative rule after Democrats held a narrow majority. The new control of the chamber came after Republicans were able to capture seats in Ohio and Montana.
Republican former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy defeated Democratic incumbent Jon Tester in Montana, the most vulnerable Senate seat ahead of Election Day. republican challenger Bernie Moreno also ousted Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in the most expensive congressional race of the 2024 cycle.
The House, on the other hand, could take weeks to call. While both parties remain optimistic about their changes, strategists on both sides of the aisle say that neither camp is likely to walk away with a majority that's larger than single digits.
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