Donald Trump could become a highly influential president if he secures control of the House alongside the Senate and the White House. With a significant lead in the popular and electoral votes, an aligned Congress, and enhanced legal protections, he is poised to strengthen his authority. Additionally, he plans to appoint loyalists to his cabinet and could further solidify a conservative Supreme Court through potential retirements, shaping U.S. policy for years to come.
Should Donald Trump manage to add control of the House of Representatives to his existing victories in the White House and the Senate, he could emerge as one of the most formidable presidents in U.S. history by January, facing minimal constraints on his authority.
There are five crucial elements that will help him fortify his position:
Democratic Mandate
As of Thursday afternoon, with a lead of five million votes in the count, Donald Trump appears to be on track to secure the popular vote against Kamala Harris.
This achievement would make him the first Republican president in two decades to win the popular vote, defying the predictions of many pollsters.
The 78-year-old has already claimed a decisive majority in the electoral college, with potential to increase this margin as results from Arizona and Nevada are finalized, where he is currently ahead.
If he is confirmed as the victor in these two states, Donald Trump will have completed a major sweep across all seven pivotal states.
“America has granted us a powerful and unprecedented mandate,” he announced on Wednesday.
In contrast to 2016, when Hillary Clinton outperformed him in the popular vote, Trump will now have robust popular legitimacy to draw upon, particularly in his confrontations with the judges pursuing him, whom he accuses of corruption.
A Congress in Alignment?
With around thirty seats still undecided out of the 435 in the House of Representatives, Republicans are currently leading the charge to maintain their majority.
The Trump camp successfully regained control of the Senate on Tuesday, a critical component of Congress with substantial powers, particularly regarding the appointment and dismissal of key executive officials and the confirmation of federal judges.
It’s noteworthy that the incoming president has effectively quelled dissent within the Republican Party, which has fully embraced his ‘Make America Great Again’ agenda.
Elevated Immunity
Donald Trump will be the first president to assume office with a significant level of immunity regarding his official duties.
This stems from a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court, issued on July 1, concerning federal prosecutions against the former president related to his unlawful efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
This decision has given Trump a reprieve, allowing him to avoid three of the four high-profile criminal trials he faced this year. Upon returning to the executive branch, he will enjoy a completely clear legal landscape.
A Cabinet of Loyalists
In his initial term starting in 2017, Donald Trump opted to surround himself with experienced officials in public affairs, aiming to assure foreign leaders.
These moderating figures were often referred to as the ‘adults in the room,’ especially given the unpredictable nature of Trump’s leadership style.
For his second term, the veteran politician is explicit about his desire to staff his administration with loyalists, rewarding those who supported his campaign, including prominent figures like billionaires Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk.
Additionally, Trump, who spent his first term critiquing the independent decisions of the U.S. central bank, will have the chance to appoint the successor to current Fed chairman Jerome Powell in 2026. Powell has indicated that he will not resign if asked by the new president.
A Transformed Supreme Court
Having solidified a conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court during his first term by appointing three justices, Donald Trump is now positioned to entrench this shift for the long haul.
Two key conservative justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, aged 76 and 74 respectively, may consider retirement, allowing the president to nominate two younger judges for lifetime appointments.
This would ensure that the highest court in the U.S., which adjudicates pivotal societal issues and electoral disputes, retains its conservative majority potentially for decades to come.