Professor Markus Wagner says trump will push his agenda, free from constitutional, legal and political guardrails
United States constitutional law expert Professor Markus Wagner can discuss how Trump will shape US policy starting on January 20.
Professor Wagner said he could break with tradition and, symbolically powerful, announce some measures from the steps of the Capitol upon his inauguration or once he enters the White House.
"Some of these proposals will inevitably run into political, legal and constitutional barriers," Professor Wagner said.
"But if the past is any indication, Trump will have increased the Overton window for his first 100 days in office and blame his political opponents for putting barriers into place to implement his MAGA policies.
"Without having to involve Congress, President Trump can use Executive Orders to will do away with existing Executive Orders issued by Biden and institute new policies."
Professor Wagner can also provide expert commentary on:
1. Sweeping new tariffs on foes and friends alike. Trump has labelled tariffs as "the most beautiful word in the dictionary" and believes that companies will relocate production to the US. This is unlikely to happen given the high cost of labour in the United States. The costs of goods for US consumers will increase for consumables, hitting lower income earners particularly hard.
2. Increased arrests at US borders and deporting possibly millions of US residents. Despite high operational costs, announcements can be expected quickly. Trump has promised to revoke US citizenship of people born in the US to undocumented immigrants – despite its inclusion in 14th Amendment to the US Constitution.
3. Pardoning January 6, 2021 rioters who Trump said "are living in hell". He is continuing to re-write the history of the failed attempt at overturning the 2020 election results.
4. Announcements of retributions against political opponents and the media. Beyond federal prosecutions, using regulatory agencies and pressuring state-level allies to pursue legal actions expands this threat. Opponents would face costly, time-consuming investigations—such as tax audits or labor law probes—designed to intimidate critics without formal charges.
5. Federal employees could face administrative reclassification and lose employment protections. This would lead to a far more pliant bureaucracy, turning the US into a more politicised government where loyalty, and indeed fealty to a person, matters more than allegiance to the country's constitution.
6. Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and ordering an increase of domestic energy production through the revocation of environmental protection measures. This approach prioritises short-term economic gains over long-term sustainability.
7. Depending on the outcome of the Tik Tok case before the US Supreme Court, Trump might announce that he would not enforce a likely adverse ruling against Tik Tok. This would challenge judicial authority and disrupt the constitutional balance of powers as the disinvestment requirements are based in a law passed through Congress. Ignoring a Supreme Court decision could set a dangerous precedent, weakening the rule of law and public trust in the judiciary and government as a whole.
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