PHOENIX – President-elect Donald Trump laid out his vision for his upcoming administration on Dec 22 in a fiery 90-minute address at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest, vowing sweeping changes to US immigration, culture, and governance. Branding his plans as a “common sense revolution,” he promised policies ranging from massive deportations to ending federal diversity initiatives and reaffirmed his intent to “stop woke” culture.
In front of thousands of conservative supporters, Trump painted a triumphant picture of his election victory, declaring Jan 20, Inauguration Day, as “liberation day in America” and the start of a new “golden age.”
Immigration Takes Center Stage
Trump dedicated much of his speech to immigration, renewing his familiar call for strict border policies. “On my first day, I will sign a historic slate of executive orders to close our border,” he declared, pledging to conduct the “largest deportation operation in American history.”
He also vowed to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations, promising to “dismantle, deport, and destroy” their networks operating within the US. However, specifics on implementation remained vague.
Anti-Woke Rhetoric Resonates
The speech highlighted Trump’s cultural priorities, including a strong stance against transgender rights and diversity initiatives. He pledged to end what he called “transgender lunacy” and to ban gender-affirming surgeries for minors, drawing loud applause from the audience.
“We will keep men out of women’s sports,” he said, reiterating his position that the US will recognize only two genders, male and female. Trump also promised to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in public and private institutions, denouncing them as contrary to the “merit system.”
Taking Aim at Historical Changes and Global Agreements
Trump criticized recent efforts to rename US military bases and ships honoring Confederate figures, vowing, “It’s not happening with me.” He also took issue with the Panama Canal, calling its transfer to Panamanian control under a 1970s treaty “stupid” and threatening to reclaim it if fee disputes persist.
Partnership with Elon Musk and Governing Efficiency
In an unusual announcement, Trump praised billionaire Elon Musk, who he has tapped to head a new Department of Government Efficiency. While Musk has drawn criticism for his active opposition to federal spending agreements, Trump dismissed speculation about Musk’s political ambitions, quipping, “He can’t be president; he wasn’t born in this country.”
A Familiar Rallying Cry
This address marked a return to Phoenix for Trump, where he delivered key immigration speeches during his first presidential campaign in 2015 and 2016. Now, as he prepares to take office again, his promises of sweeping reforms and cultural shifts signal a continuation of his unorthodox and combative political style.
The conservative audience greeted Trump’s plans with enthusiastic support, many wearing his signature “Make America Great Again” hats, cementing his centrality to the Republican base as he readies for his second term.