Four things Trump could do with full control of Congress
Donald Trump has claimed an “unprecedented and powerful mandate” to govern in his victory speech.
If Republicans control all of Congress, he will have exactly that.
Republicans have already flipped several Democratic seats to seize control of the Senate. The party is odds-on favourites to retain the House.
A GOP trifecta of the House, Senate and the White House would grant the 78-year-old unfettered power to push through his agenda for the next two years.
With the Supreme Court also having a six-three majority of conservatives — including three nominated by Trump himself — all potential guardrails will be off.
Tax cuts and tariffs
A GOP congress could move quickly on a major budget that would deliver on Trump’s promise to cut taxes by trillions of dollars.
A key priority will be extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts – his signature legislative achievement of his first term and which are due to expire at the end of next year.
Republicans could go further by pushing to repeal the estate tax on inheritance left to relatives and further cutting the tax burdens for working people.
Trump also plans to dramatically ramp up the protectionist trade policies of his first term with the backing of Congress.
He has threatened a tariff of more than 10 per cent on all foreign imports and perhaps even a 100 per cent tariff on some Chinese-made products.
‘Retribution’ against opponents
Trump has made clear that he will use the Department of Justice to pursue his personal agenda as much as his political one.
He has suggested he will seek “retribution” against his opponents and one of the few constraints on his ability to exert pressure on the Department of Justice was the threat of impeachment.
Since impeachment is a process that begins in the House of Representatives, if it is controlled by Republicans, that threat disappears.
Ukraine aid
US funding for Ukraine will almost certainly be at an end in a GOP-controlled House.
Republican hardliners in the chamber have been among the most vociferously opposed to large-scale funding packages for Kyiv.
While Trump has suggested he will be able to broker a swift peace deal with Moscow, whatever the outcome, Republicans are unlikely to continue approving US dollars to defend Ukraine.
Immigration reform
With full control of Congress, Republicans can push ahead with plans to fund tough, ambitious immigration policies including completing Trump’s signature border wall.
They will also be able to approve legislation to fund Trump’s plan to enact the largest deportation programme in US history.