When organizations set their agenda, it’s natural to start with the most important priorities first, and then fill in the rest as resources allow. It’s like the old illustration when you fill a jar with large rocks first, then the medium ones, and then finally the sand.
This week, President Trump released his 50-point agenda in the event he is re-elected for a second term. The full list is below, and while many of them are more “wish-list” items (like “Create 10 million jobs”), what does it tell us about his priorities?
Of great concern to Evangelicals is the lack of any language regarding Pro-Life issues or religious freedom. President Trump has been touted as the most pro-gay President in history (even by himself), and while many Christians decry any discrimination, there are also gray areas regarding hiring practices and support for homosexual weddings and other events that may create difficult religious freedom questions. The fact that this did not even make President’s Trump’s top-50 will raise some eyebrows.
The lack of any Pro-life agenda items is particularly notable. President Trump has repeatedly been called the most Pro-life President in history, but there is little factual data backing that assertion, and there is considerable evidence he has done more harm to pro-life issues than any recent President. David French has an excellent article (linked below) illustrating this difficulty.
https://frenchpress.thedispatch.com/p/do-pro-lifers-who-reject-trump-have
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Highlights of the rest of the items include:
#1 – Over 1/3 of the items have to do with the economy or finances. It would be difficult to argue that President Trump’s entire outlook on the Presidency is not filtered through this lens.
#2 – As is consistent with this focus, the first item on the list involves jobs. President Trump believes that America is better when it’s better for businesses and business owners (not really a surprise given his background).
#3 – Trump continues to indicate that he views China as the primary threat to the United States (again, primarily on economic grounds). Notable is any mention of Russia, which is obviously a source of concern for Democrats and intelligence agencies. Generally speaking, there is disagreement over whether the US should be building relationships with China and express caution towards Russia, or vice versa. Trump clearly prefers the pro-Russia approach.
#4 – The item about “Cut taxes to boost take-home pay” is most likely a reference to payroll taxes, which President Trump has indicated he wants lowered or eliminated. The concern would be that these taxes are what fund Medicare and Social Security. Currently, President Trump has said these would be covered by the General Fund, but it’s still unclear how this would be possible while cutting taxes and his proposed tax credits for businesses.
#5 – The Covid-19 items match the timeframe proposed by Dr. Fauci and others in the spring of 2020, namely that it would be around early 2021 when a vaccine and treatment would be generally available.
#6 – As a former educator, the “teach American exceptionalism” idea is interesting. It will be interesting to see how that would be implemented and what it would cover. However, it is consistent with President Trump’s isolationist approach to his presidency.
#7 – The goal of “End Bureaucratic Government Bullying of U.S. Citizens and Small Businesses” is somewhat amusing as it was released the same week that President Trump publicly called for a boycott on Goodyear tires.
#8 – As indicated by the items under “Defend our Police,” President Trump approaches law enforcement from the perspective of using more force to subdue criminal activity. This is in contrast to the proposals that call for more de-escalation or re-allocating funding for some police actions (for example, proposals that police would not be called to address homelessness or other non-criminal activity).
#9 – President Trump has been consistent that he considers illegal immigration to be a major issue for the country, and is especially concerned about potential drain on the US economy.
#10 – The Clean Air and Water goals are laudable, but they seem at odds with rolling back of environmental regulations.
#11 – President Trump continues to focus on bringing troops home and the economic cost of military alliances.
President Trump’s proposed agenda illustrates his priorities:
– Finances
– An aggressive stance towards China
– American Exceptionalism/Isolationism.
The question is if voters agree that these are the most important issues for the President or for the country as a whole.
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President Trump’s 2nd Term Agenda
JOBS
- Create 10 Million New Jobs in 10 Months
- Create 1 Million New Small Businesses
- Cut Taxes to Boost Take-Home Pay and Keep Jobs in America
- Enact Fair Trade Deals that Protect American Jobs
- “Made in America” Tax Credits
- Expand Opportunity Zones
- Continue Deregulatory Agenda for Energy Independence
ERADICATE COVID-19
- Develop a Vaccine by The End Of 2020
- Return to Normal in 2021
- Make All Critical Medicines and Supplies for Healthcare Workers in The United States
- Refill Stockpiles and Prepare for Future Pandemics
END OUR RELIANCE ON CHINA
- Bring Back 1 Million Manufacturing Jobs from China
- Tax Credits for Companies that Bring Back Jobs from China
- Allow 100% Expensing Deductions for Essential Industries like Pharmaceuticals and Robotics who Bring Back their Manufacturing to the United States
- No Federal Contracts for Companies who Outsource to China
- Hold China Fully Accountable for Allowing the Virus to Spread around the World
HEALTHCARE
- Cut Prescription Drug Prices
- Put Patients and Doctors Back in Charge of our Healthcare System
- Lower Healthcare Insurance Premiums
- End Surprise Billing
- Cover All Pre-Existing Conditions
- Protect Social Security and Medicare
- Protect Our Veterans and Provide World-Class Healthcare and Services
EDUCATION
- Provide School Choice to Every Child in America
- Teach American Exceptionalism
DRAIN THE SWAMP
- Pass Congressional Term Limits
- End Bureaucratic Government Bullying of U.S. Citizens and Small Businesses
- Expose Washington’s Money Trail and Delegate Powers Back to People and States
- Drain the Globalist Swamp by Taking on International Organizations That Hurt American Citizens
DEFEND OUR POLICE
- Fully Fund and Hire More Police and Law Enforcement Officers
- Increase Criminal Penalties for Assaults on Law Enforcement Officers
- Prosecute Drive-By Shootings as Acts of Domestic Terrorism
- Bring Violent Extremist Groups Like ANTIFA to Justice
- End Cashless Bail and Keep Dangerous Criminals Locked Up until Trial
END ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND PROTECT AMERICAN WORKERS
- Block Illegal Immigrants from Becoming Eligible for Taxpayer-Funded Welfare, Healthcare, and Free College Tuition
- Mandatory Deportation for Non-Citizen Gang Members
- Dismantle Human Trafficking Networks
- End Sanctuary Cities to Restore our Neighborhoods and Protect our Families
- Prohibit American Companies from Replacing United States Citizens with Lower-Cost Foreign Workers
- Require New Immigrants to Be Able to Support Themselves Financially
INNOVATE FOR THE FUTURE
- Launch Space Force, Establish Permanent Manned Presence on The Moon and Send the First Manned Mission to Mars
- Build the World’s Greatest Infrastructure SystemWin the Race to 5G and Establish a National High-Speed Wireless Internet Network
- Continue to Lead the World in Access to the Cleanest Drinking Water and Cleanest Air
- Partner with Other Nations to Clean Up our Planet’s Oceans
AMERICA FIRST FOREIGN POLICY
- Stop Endless Wars and Bring Our Troops Home
- Get Allies to Pay their Fair Share
- Maintain and Expand America’s Unrivaled Military Strength
- Wipe Out Global Terrorists Who Threaten to Harm Americans
- Build a Great Cybersecurity Defense System and Missile Defense System