What should we expect from Trump's first days in office?
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'AMERICA FIRST' IN FOREIGN POLICY
Trump's return means a renewed push for American sovereignty. Expect disengagement from international treaties and institutions that he sees as unfavorable to US interests, from the Paris Climate Agreement to certain United Nations mandates. This, of course, is perfectly in alignment with the ideals of the Founding Fathers. George Washington warned a young America in his farewell address about the danger of entangling alliances. Thomas Jefferson later affirmed that the United States should consider such alliances to be temporary arrangements that should be regularly revisited to ensure they remain in the national interest.
The modern international political system is in many ways the opposite.
When the United States enters into a treaty, it agrees to adhere to the obligations outlined within that treaty. If the US fails to meet its treaty obligations, it may face diplomatic repercussions, sanctions, or damage to its international reputation. However, international bodies typically lack enforcement power to compel compliance if the United States withdraws from a treaty or fails to uphold it.
Under US Domestic Law, the binding nature of treaties is established by the Constitution. According to the Supremacy Clause in Article VI, treaties are considered "the supreme Law of the Land," meaning they hold equal weight to federal laws. The Supremacy Clause is often cited to clarify that federal law and treaties have binding power over state governments and must be adhered to by state courts.
The United States can withdraw from treaties – sometimes unilaterally – depending on the treaty's provisions. For instance, President Trump withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Agreement, as it was an executive agreement rather than a treaty ratified by the Senate. Other international treaties, like the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO's founding accord), would require more formal procedures for withdrawal, owing to their intricate and complex nature. Do not expect a withdrawal from NATO, as that would be extremely strategically disadvantageous for the United States. However, we can expect the Trump administration to take an axe to many of the global "climate change" initiatives that have hamstrung US industry while China and India continue – and even increase – their already substantial share of global pollution. (China and India's emissions exceed those of all developed nations combined; India alone is responsible for 60% of the increase in global pollution since 2013.)
In summary, while international treaties are binding on the United States in principle, the US maintains significant flexibility in their application and adherence.
NATO allies will likely be pushed to contribute more financially or risk losing American military support, while China can anticipate a tougher stance on trade and technology.
Under Trump, foreign policy will shift from global involvement to protecting American autonomy, reducing reliance on foreign entities, and reshaping trade to benefit US workers and industries.
HEALTH POLICY OVERHAUL, INFLUENCED BY RFK, JR.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s health and freedom advocacy is likely to shape Trump's early days in office, with policies emphasizing medical choice and an overhaul of the way federal oversight is conducted.
Kennedy has been vocal about his vision to reform federal agencies overseeing food, agriculture, and healthcare, targeting what he considers systemic corruption and corporate influence. If he is given the green light by Trump, we can expect a thorough overhaul of public health agencies, particularly the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and National Institutes of Health (NIH.)
Kennedy has repeatedly stated his intent to "clean up the corruption" within these institutions and restore a focus on evidence-based standards, which he argues have been undermined by conflicts of interest.
Kennedy has also criticized the role of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in shaping American dietary guidelines, arguing that the guidelines favor ultra-processed foods due to corporate lobbying rather than health priorities. He has proposed changing USDA policies to promote natural, unprocessed foods to improve public health, reflecting his broader commitment to tackling corporate influence in dietary recommendations.
A key part of Kennedy's plan is personnel restructuring within federal health agencies; where he has stated his intention to "clear out entire departments" to address what he views as entrenched bureaucratic resistance to reform, aiming to increase function, transparency, accuracy and accountability.
THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
Trump's team will likely also push to lower healthcare costs by encouraging state competition and expanding healthcare options. This is something many Americans badly need and will be a required fix in any efforts to cut down on government spending.
The federal government spent approximately $1.5 trillion (about 27% of total federal expenditures) on healthcare in 2022. This spending encompassed major programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and veterans' medical care. If the new administration has any plans to cut any of these costs, they will need to ensure proper, adequate, and cost effective medical alternatives are available to the public.
Robert Kennedy, Jr.'s health initiatives will certainly help bring down overall demand via preventative measures. But medical access will be a critical issue that will act as a juncture between any attempts to balance the budget, increase efficiency, and set foundations for post-Trump elections where this topic will be quickly used by Democrats if not handled properly.
ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND CLIMATE POLICY RESET
To restore US energy independence, Trump will likely roll back green energy mandates, open more federal land for drilling, and support fossil fuel production. His administration could push to streamline permits, revive fracking, and invest in energy projects that reduce dependency on foreign oil. American voters, especially those in rural and working-class sectors, view this as essential to driving down costs and securing American sovereignty.
Energy independence enhances US national security by reducing reliance on foreign energy sources, which strengthens economic stability, bolsters geopolitical leverage, and ensures resilience against global conflicts or supply disruptions. By producing energy domestically, the United States becomes less vulnerable to foreign influence, avoiding coercion from adversarial nations that may use energy as political leverage.
It also ensures stable energy prices, which in turn have an important contributory effect on the economy overall. Lower energy costs and greater supply almost always equates to greater economic growth. There are no rich nations with low energy availability.
EDUCATION REFORM AND PARENTAL RIGHTS
Education is set for a dramatic shift as Trump prioritizes school choice and parental control. Executive orders may limit critical race theory CRT and gender identity topics in K-12 education, expand funding for charter schools, and increase transparency around school curricula.
Trump's commitment to putting parents in charge of education is expected to reignite debates over the role of schools, state control, and what children are being taught.
One of his primary proposals is the elimination of the US Department of Education, which he argues would return educational control to state and local governments. The purpose of these policies is to allow communities and parents greater say in curricula and standards, enabling parents to review and influence school curricula, budgets and materials, with the option to opt out of specific programs they find objectionable.
Trump has vowed to cut federal funding for schools that include critical race theory or gender ideology in their curricula, contending that these subjects are divisive and detract from traditional academic priorities. His plan to focus on core subjects while limiting certain social content underscores his approach to returning educational decision-making power to parents and reducing federal influence.
Trump's education agenda also supports school choice initiatives, including vouchers, education savings accounts, and tax-credit scholarships, to give parents the flexibility to choose the best educational options for their children, whether public, private or charter schools.
Trump's call for the reintroduction of prayer in public schools is a very bold move, and may just be the icing on this already impressive cake for the many Christians and conservatives who have long wanted to see faith restored at the center of American public life.
JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS AND A CONSERVATIVE COURT
Finally, there is one area that conservatives of all stripes must keep an eye on: judicial appointments, which will be a priority as Trump looks to cement a conservative legacy.
Expect Trump to move quickly, as he did in his previous term, to nominate conservative judges as openings arise.
Four of the nine US Supreme Court justices are over the age of 70, with the most staunchly conservative of them, Justice Clarence Thomas, nearing 80. Of those four, three are conservative-leaning. With the last appointment (Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, nominated by Joe Biden in 2022) being one of the most far-Left radicals so far, it is imperative that conservatives are able to ensure the constitutionally conservative balance on the high court.
As of November 2024, there are 46 federal judicial vacancies that need filling, with potentially hundreds more over the next four years.
The average number of judicial appointments for a president is approximately 311. However, The Judicial Conference has recommended the creation of new judgeships to address increasing caseloads. In June 2024, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a bill to create 63 new district court judgeships, with 31 positions effective in January 2025 and the remainder in 2029.
For Christians and conservatives, a host of new conservative judges – specifically those who will not bow to Marxist reinterpretations of the law – just might make all the difference in the decades to come.
THE ROAD AHEAD: A NEW AMERICAN LANDSCAPE
Trump's first 100 days will be nothing short of transformative. From securing the border to reining in Big Tech, his administration promises swift action on every front, prioritizing security, economic freedom, and sovereignty.
For Catholics, evangelicals, and the working class, this is the start of a political realignment that reaffirms their values and visions for America. His coalition's expectations are high, and his approach so far seems to be delivering on those expectations at a remarkable rate.
In a political world where corruption and bloat have for so long been the status quo, Trump's return signals a recalibration of what's possible. We should expect an exciting term that leaves a lasting impact on America and her future.
Arthur is a former editor and consultant. Born in India to missionary parents, he spent his early career working in development for NGOs in Asia, Central America, and Africa.
Arthur has an educational background in history and psychology, with certifications from the University of Oxford and Leiden in the economics, politics, and ethics of mass migration and comparative theories in terrorism and counterterrorism. He is currently launching CivWest, a company focused on building capital to fund restorative projects and create resilient systems across the Western world.