I know it was hard for some people to admit it last time, but—for good or for worse— Donald Trump is your president. Yes, you’ve heard a lot of things on the campaign trail, specifically from Kamala Harris and the like, that Trump poses an “imminent threat to democracy,” and he’s a “fascist-like authoritarian.” Well, he wasn’t. He wasn’t in 2017, or 2018, or 2019, or 2020. But, he will be in 2024! Right…
Trump, an exceptionally strange character in American politics, was actually not that bad during his first go-around. In fact, prices were low, job growth was booming and the world seemed at ease. Yes, rhetorically, Trump is awful. On the basis of policy, however, his record fairs well. Now, is it the best time for someone with a bombastic personality, like himself, to hold the presidency? Only time will tell. But, in terms of Trump’s policy record, it might be the best time possible for him to sit in the Oval Office.
If you’re wondering what to expect from Trump, you don’t have to look very hard. We’ve witnessed a Trump presidency already. If you forgot what that looked like, let me remind you: You can expect exceptional foreign policy, a deregulated economy, lower taxes and unfortunately, fairly high government spending.
Most conservatives would probably mention Trump’s economic success before addressing his achievements on the foreign policy front. If anything, successful foreign policy was the staple of the first Trump administration. During Trump’s reign, Iran was broke, ISIS was devastated and Russia, for the first time in the last sixteen years, did not make any territorial gains. Before Trump held office, most thought these accomplishments were inconceivable. However, because of Trump’s sheer unpredictability and harsh deterrence, the world was a much safer place. As it turns out, “peace through strength” is actually a good foreign policy.
In regard to Trump’s economic success, it turns out deregulation and tax cuts spur job growth and innovation. Go figure! The 2017 tax cuts are expiring out in 2025, so we can expect another republican tax cut bill. According to Trump, he is looking to slash the corporate tax rate even further, from 21% to 15%. This is all great news.
Perhaps more importantly, Trump would likely get to work on alleviating the economic regulatory burden. You’ve heard it before; Trump wants to “drill, baby, drill.” Trump also has plans to bring along new faces, like Elon Musk, who has proclaimed that he wants to correct government efficiency and decrease the reach of the executive branch. Yes, Trump has some strange views on tariffs. Trump, during his interview with Joe Rogan, said “tariff is the most beautiful word.” How effective would Trump’s tariffs plans be in terms of protecting American manufacturing? It is unclear. But there is the obvious possibility that a tariff on all imported goods would increase prices, which is almost certainly going to occur. We will see how it all plays out.
We are only two months away from the beginning of Trump’s second term. There is mass uncertainty, and probably for good reason. Following the issues surrounding Jan. 6, 2021, and clear character issues associated with Trump, it makes us wonder what is about to happen. It is my understanding that even if you think Trump will go rogue—which I cannot see happening because we’ve seen a Trump presidency before— the guardrails the founders put in place were literally set up for this exact scenario. I think we can all be at ease. Remember, Trump only has four years—and hell, how much worse can it be than the last four years?
Let’s all just relax for a second. When it is all said and done, I confidently think we are all going to be alright. Yes, you might not like some of the things Trump is about to do, but remember, in 2019, prices were lower, job growth was booming and the world was safer. So let’s hope for more of the same.
The views in this piece do not reflect the overall views of the Cigar or its editorial board. The opinions expressed are solely that of the columnist and do not represent the Cigar as a whole. The Cigar provides its columnists with an opportunity to voice their views on our opinion page, which is clearly marked separate from its unbiased reporting. The Cigar does not affiliate with either side, organization or political group.