Donald Trump’s trifecta victory gives Republicans the power to enact sweeping changes in US policies.
Results Recap
Trifecta for Trump
On 5 November, Republican Donald Trump won both the electoral college and the popular vote – he secured 312 electoral college votes compared to Kamala Harris’ 226 and 75.6m votes overall compared to Harris’ 72.4m at the time of writing. The result gives the Republican Party a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives (218-212 seats) and a 52-47 majority in the Senate.
The race was closer than the outcome suggests. Harris is reported to have lost in key swing states by just 786,000 votes – if she had secured these ballots, she may have been able to seriously challenge or defeat Trump overall.
As things stand, Trump’s trifecta victory means the Republican Party has broad power to enact its policy agenda – with minimal hurdles to clear.
Policy Positions
Foreign affairs
President-elect Trump has been critical of the Biden administration’s support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, and said on numerous occasions that he could end the war in 24 hours. He has made clear to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that a compromise must be reached and that the level of support he has enjoyed will not continue. Trump also said during his campaign speeches that as president he would fundamentally rethink NATO's purpose and mission.
The president-elect has said he will end the war between Israel and Hamas in quick time, by supporting Israel but urging it to wrap up its offensive. He has sent mixed messages to Iran about his forthcoming policy towards the Islamic Republic. On the one hand, he has spoken of renewing the US’s maximum pressure campaign and, on the other, sent Elon Musk to meet with the Iranian ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, to discuss defusing tensions in the region.
Some of Trump’s new appointees have confirmed that he will push for normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, despite changes to the regional security environment since he was president.
Energy
Trump’s policy of working towards US energy dominance is predicated upon licensing more oil and gas drilling and increasing production so that the country will no longer be dependent on OPEC+ producers and Washington can impose energy sanctions against states, such as Iran.
The president-elect has also vowed to stop offshore wind projects, bring an end to electric car subsidies, and dismantle environmental and climate rules.
Trade
During his election campaign, Trump floated the idea of a 10% or more tariff on all goods imported into the US, a move he says would eliminate the trade deficit, and a 200% tariff on some imported cars. He also suggested that allies, such as the EU, could see higher duties on their goods.
Trump has singled out China in particular. He has proposed phasing out the import of Chinese goods, including electronics, steel and pharmaceuticals, and intends to prohibit Chinese companies from owning US real estate and infrastructure in critical sectors, such as energy and technology – an ambitious goal.
Immigration
Trump has pledged to reinstate first-term policies targeting illegal border crossings and severely restricting access to asylum at the Mexico border. He has also vowed to end automatic citizenship for children born to immigrants in the US, which runs counter to interpretations of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution. Moreover, the former president has committed to begin America’s biggest ever deportation campaign in its history.
Who’s Who – Key Appointments to Date
Secretary of Energy – Chris Wright
Oil and gas executive Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy, is an engineer by background, a staunch advocate of fossil fuels and fracking, and a climate change sceptic. He does not have experience of working in government but has been vocal against several Biden administration climate policies.
Wright will serve alongside Interior Secretary nominee Doug Burgum on the new National Energy Council.
Secretary of Defence – Pete Hegseth
Pete Hegseth is a Fox News host and military veteran. He is a controversial choice due to his lack of experience in the international arena, in government, and in managing large organisations.
Hegseth is known as pro-Israel and an Iran hawk and has called the two-state solution a “lip-service”. He has been critical of European allies and his selection has raised concerns within NATO about its future of the relationship with the US. Hegseth is also ardently anti-“woke” and is expected to target Defence Department equity and inclusion programmes. He is opposed to women serving in combat roles.
Secretary of State – Marco Rubio
Marco Rubio is Senator for Florida and will be the first Latino to serve as Secretary of State. A known hawk on foreign policy issues, including China, Cuba and Iran, he currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He has spoken previously about the threat posed to the US by closer cooperation between China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, and has opposed further funding for Ukraine. He is expected to place greater emphasis on relations with Latin America than his predecessors.
Rubio is likely to receive relatively broad support in the confirmation process, including from Democrats. Rubio previously ran for president in 2016 and was a finalist for Trump’s ticket back in the summer.
National Security Adviser – Mike Waltz
Mike Waltz serves as Representative for Florida. A former Green Beret and a three-term congressman with a reputation for being hawkish on national security, he previously served as Defence Adviser to former defence secretaries Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates and advised then-Vice-President Dick Cheney on counterterrorism. He is a member of the Armed Services, Intelligence and Foreign Affairs Committees and serves as Chairman of the House Armed Services subcommittee overseeing military logistics.
Waltz is critical of NATO members for failing to meet their defence spending commitments and is tough on China and Iran. He has previously stated that the US should be – but is not – prepared for a potential conflict with China in the Asia-Pacific region. He serves on the Republicans’ China Task Force.
His appointment is one of few that does not require Senate confirmation.
MENA Envoy – Steven Witkoff
Real estate investor Steven Witkoff is a campaign donor and golfing partner of Donald Trump. He is Jewish, pro-Israel, and a supporter of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He described Netanyahu's speech to the US Congress as “spiritual” and criticised Democrats for not feeling the same way.
UN Ambassador – Elise Stefanik
Stefanik has been serving as a Republican representative for New York state since 2015 and Chair of the House Republican Conference since 2021, replacing Liz Cheney who was evicted for criticising Trump’s allegations of election fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Stefanik has backed Trump’s claim of winning the 2020 election and has blamed Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the 6 January attacks on the Capitol.
Stefanik is known for having a pro-Israel position. She actively participated in the 2023 congressional hearing on antisemitism, questioning university presidents on their handling of pro-Palestinian campus demonstrations. In March 2024, she received the "Dr Miriam and Sheldon Adelson Defender of Israel Award" from the Zionist Organization of America.
Director of National Intelligence – Tulsi Gabbard
Gabbard is a Lieutenant colonel in the US Army Reserve. She served as Democratic representative for Hawaii from 2013 to 2021. In 2022, she left the Democratic party to become independent – describing Democrats as an “elitist cabal of warmongers” driven by "cowardly wokeness", before joining the Republican Party in 2024. She will oversee 18 US intelligence agencies, including the CIA, the FBI, and the National Security Agency.
Gabbard has received positive coverage in Russian media for expressing support of Russia’s stance over its war on Ukraine, prompting both Democrat and Republican Congress members to question her loyalties.
Ambassador to Israel – Mike Huckabee
Huckabee is a Baptist minister and former governor of Arkansas (1996–2007). He made two unsuccessful bids to become the Republican nominee in the 2008 and 2016 and has backed Donald Trump ever since.
Huckabee is deeply pro-Israel and opposed to the two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. In a 2017 interview with CNN, he said: “There is no such thing as a West Bank. It’s Judea and Samaria. There’s no such thing as a settlement ... There’s no such thing as an occupation.” He has denied the existence of a Palestinian identity and argued that there is “plenty of land” in neighbouring Jordan, Egypt, and Syria, to host Arab populations.
Look Ahead
- Trump’s Cabinet picks are subject to Congress approval via a majority vote in the 100-seat chamber. The process has slowed in recent years due to deepening partisan divisions; however, with the Republicans in control of the Senate, Trump’s appointments may have a smoother ride.
- The President has the authority to fill vacant positions when the Senate is in recess – for 10 days or longer. Officials appointed in this way are limited to two-year terms. Trump has indicated he may go this route and has called for an adjournment after he assumes office in January.
- It is unclear whether Republican senators will be willing to secede the democratic powers of the Senate in this regard. A further consideration is the Trump campaign’s decision not to engage, thus far, in traditional transition processes. This means senators may be considering appointees who have not been fully vetted – or have not been subject to the approvals process altogether.