President-elect Donald Trump, in his first major broadcast interview since winning the November election, outlined an aggressive agenda for his upcoming term, including plans to pardon January 6 Capitol rioters, end birthright citizenship, and issue sweeping executive orders on immigration, energy, and the economy.
Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, DonaldTrump vowed to act quickly to address what he called injustices against those convicted for their roles in the 2021 Capitol riot. Labeling their conditions “hellish,” he pledged to review their cases immediately upon assuming office on January 20. Trump suggested he would not investigate his predecessor, Joe Biden, but called for members of the House committee that investigated him to face jail time, targeting lawmakers like Liz Cheney, who later condemned his comments as an assault on the rule of law.
The president-elect also announced plans to challenge birthright citizenship, a constitutional guarantee under the 14th Amendment that grants citizenship to anyone born in the U.S. DonaldTrump called for its termination through executive action, framing it as a step toward tightening immigration policies. While advocating for mass deportations, he expressed a willingness to collaborate with Democrats on providing relief to “Dreamers,” undocumented immigrants protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, acknowledging their contributions to the U.S. economy.
On foreign policy, DonaldTrump hinted at reducing U.S. aid to Ukraine and made NATO membership contingent on allied nations meeting financial obligations and treating the U.S. “fairly.” He also pledged not to cut Social Security but promised to make the program more efficient. Addressing trade, he defended his plans for tariffs on major U.S. trading partners but admitted he could not guarantee they wouldn’t raise consumer prices.
DonaldTrump floated controversial positions on health and science, suggesting his nominee for health secretary, vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., would explore a debunked link between autism and vaccines. He reaffirmed his commitment to keeping abortion pills accessible while leaving room for potential policy shifts.
Trump’s interview comes as Biden prepares to leave office, reportedly considering pardons for political allies. Trump, however, emphasized his focus on future success rather than revisiting past grievances, even as he left the door open for legal actions against perceived political adversaries. The comments underscore his intent to reshape the nation’s policies while reigniting fierce political and social debates.
