[A photo of Donald J. Trump. Photo credit to Unsplash]

Donald J. Trump was inaugurated for his second term as the 47th president of the United States on January 20th, 2025.  

In a wide-ranging inaugural address, he made statements regarding his plans for the presidency, including policies centered on immigration enforcement, economic protection, and nation-defense strategies.  

Immigration:  

A particularly controversial announcement in Trump’s address was his plan to detain as many as 30,000 unauthorized immigrants at the military facility in Guantánamo Bay.  

The announcement was met with immediate backlash from both Democratic leaders and human rights groups, as they argued that deporting such a significant number of people to a military environment was legally and ethically questionable.  

Cuban leaders have forcefully rejected Trump's initiative citing brutality and disregard for human rights, and have warned that it may cause diplomatic tension.  

Economic Policies:  

Trump signed the “America First Trade Policy” on his inauguration date, a presidential memorandum that directs companies to reevaluate trade agreements and their effects on  the American economy.   

The administration maintains that domestically produced goods will be at the forefront of future trade.  

While his supporters assert that this act will provide security to American jobs and businesses, economists have predicted that restricting U.S. markets could have a negative effect on global trade relationships.  

Energy and Climate Change Policy:  

Trump also issued an executive order reversing many climate codes that were created by the previous Biden administration.   

The energy policy centers around increasing fossil fuel production by expanding domestic oil and gas drilling.   

Environmental protection groups have criticized Trump’s actions, warning of increased climate change and public health risks.  

Defense Technology:  

Another proposal introduced by Trump’s administration was the inclusion of space-based missile defense systems.  

Officials claimed that this initiative would fortify the United States by countering threats of war from potentially hostile nations.  

However, many military defense experts have shown concern about the feasibility and cost of such an expensive project and have compared it to the “Star Wars” initiative launched by Ronald Reagan during his presidency.  

Tariffs:  

During his address, Trump imposed a 25% import tariff from both Canada and Mexico, with energy resources from Canada receiving a lower rate of 10%.  

When questioned on his reasoning for this decision, Trump cited concerns over illegal immigrants and narcotics being trafficked from either nation.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau countered Trump's order with a 25% tariff “against $155 billion worth of American goods.”

Mexican officials responded by imploring Trump to reconsider or seek alternatives to the tariffs while pointing to the negative effect they would have on America-Mexico relations. 

Space Exploration: 

Lastly, Trump shared his plan to send American astronauts to Mars to achieve a new great milestone in space exploration. He stated, “We will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the stars and stripes on the surface of Mars."

The president’s support for sending astronauts to Mars aligns with multiple previous space missions such as the Artemis Program conducted by NASA, which focused on lunar exploration. 

Administration officials indicated that space exploration would be a defining priority of Trump’s second term, though specifics about funding and timeline remain to be announced.