What Trump’s Republican trifecta in his first administration accomplished, and where they failed: Flashback

The Republican Party is expected to maintain control of the House majority in the upcoming Congress, providing President-elect Trump with another red trifecta similar to the first two years of his initial term in office. This advantageous position will make it easier for Trump to push forward his agenda without facing opposition from a Democratic majority.

During the 2017-2019 period when the GOP held a governing trifecta, they were able to accomplish several key objectives, including implementing significant tax reform and confirming judges to establish a conservative majority in the Supreme Court. However, not all of their priorities were successfully realized.

One of the most notable achievements of the GOP during Trump’s first term was the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which involved substantial tax cuts for individuals and corporations while restructuring the tax code. Despite strong opposition from House Democrats, the legislation was successfully passed.

Another major focus for the Republicans was the Affordable Care Act (ACA), where efforts to fully repeal the Obama-era healthcare law fell short due to a narrow margin in the House. Although they were unable to completely eliminate the individual mandate from the ACA, they did manage to eliminate the associated financial penalty for non-compliance.

In terms of immigration policy, the construction of Trump’s promised border wall faced challenges as Congress only approved a fraction of the requested funding. Following a government shutdown in early 2019, Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border to redirect funds from other sources towards the wall. By the end of January 2021, approximately 452 miles of the border wall had been completed.

Trump’s impact on the federal judiciary was also significant, with the confirmation of 161 federal judges, including two Supreme Court justices, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, during his first term. The nomination and confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett in 2020 further solidified the conservative majority on the Supreme Court.

Additionally, Trump’s administration achieved bipartisan success with the passage of the First Step Act in 2018, aimed at reducing recidivism rates and expanding eligibility for compassionate release for certain federal inmates. The law led to the early release or reduced sentences of thousands of inmates by 2022.

In conclusion, the GOP’s control of the House majority in the upcoming Congress is expected to facilitate the advancement of President-elect Trump’s agenda without significant opposition. The achievements and setbacks from the previous term serve as a backdrop for the upcoming legislative priorities and challenges that lie ahead.