Trump will face fewer speeding problems in Washington during his second term According to Reuters

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Donald Trump will face far fewer limits to his power when he is sworn in again as U.S. president in January, with allies across Washington to help him achieve his goals.

Trump returns to power as the head of a Republican Party that has rebuilt its image over the past eight years and as the architect of a conservative-leaning judiciary that has helped eliminate its legal risks.

After his surprise victory in 2016, many Republican lawmakers and even members of his administration viewed Trump with suspicion — notably Vice President Mike Pence, who refused to join his plan to reverse his January 6, 2021 election loss. .

Congressional Republicans who resisted him, such as former Rep. Liz Cheney and the late Sen. John McCain, were replaced by lawmakers who sought his support.

The Supreme Court, with three judges it appointed, has loosened the legal guardrails that have dogged past presidents, thanks to a blockbuster July ruling that gives presidents broad immunity from criminal prosecution.

And he will be able to claim a broad mandate from the public as only the second Republican presidential candidate since 1988 to win the popular vote. Nearly nine in 10 Republican voters view him favorably, according to a Reuters/Ispos poll in late October.

Trump faces a potential limitation: Democrats could still win control of the House, which would allow them to block his legislative agenda and launch investigations into his administration. But with dozens of races still to be called, Republicans have so far added to their narrow majority.

Republicans are finding plenty of reasons to celebrate.

“The President will return to office in triumph with a new mandate to fix the biggest problems facing our nation. And this time he brings a hard-won understanding of how to make Washington work for him,” the Republican said. General John Ashbrook.

“MORE MAGA AND LESS DEMOCRATIC”

His allies have spent the past several months vetting candidates for his government, with the goal of ensuring key positions are filled by reliable foot soldiers.

“We’re looking at younger, more MAGA people. More MAGA and less Republican than in the past,” said one donor who spoke on condition of anonymity, referring to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.

One of those positions, of course, has already been filled. JD (NASDAQ: ) Vice President-elect Vance spent his brief political career championing Trump’s nationalist philosophy on Capitol Hill and was elected to the Senate in 2022 after winning Trump’s endorsement. Pence, by contrast, had carved out his own identity as a former governor and congressman by the time Trump nominated him for vice president in 2016.

Trump will likely have an easier time getting his nominees through the Senate this time than in his first term, when dozens of nominees failed to win approval. Republicans are on track to control between 52 and 57 of the 100 seats, meaning a winning vote won’t necessarily hinge on independent Republicans like Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

“With a 54-seat majority, where I think the Senate is shaky right now, he should be able to confirm most of his qualified Cabinet nominees,” said Jon Lieber, a former Republican Senate aide now with the Eurasia group. journalists on a video conference.

The potential candidates include several who failed to win Senate approval during Trump’s first term.

Trump could also have an easier time winning approval for his judicial picks, though there may be few openings to fill since he and Democratic President Joe Biden have appointed about half of the nation’s 890 judges. , who have life tenure.

These judges have already given Trump important victories. The most notable U.S. District Court judge, Elaine Cannon, in July dismissed a federal case accusing Trump of illegally mishandling classified documents after he left office.

Meanwhile, legal experts say the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity may leave Trump feeling off limits once he is sworn in on Jan. 20.

“There will be very few restrictions on Trump, and I think he will feel very empowered with this decision in his pocket,” said Fordham University law professor Cheryl Bader.