After an emphatic victory in the presidential elections, US president-elect Donald Trump will have a free hand in Washington when he takes over the White House in January. This is thanks to the Republicans retaking the Senate and retaining the control of the House of Representatives.
With GOP controlling the Congress, Trump can easily appoint officials in his Cabinet and other senior administration posts for the next two years.
Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner. Sometimes the votes can take two years, or more. This is…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 10, 2024
Trump had already sealed his victory in the popular votes and Electoral College. Now the Republicans have bagged the minimum 218 seats required to claim majority against 208 seats won by Democrats.
Though a razor-thin victory, the House control will allow Trump to pass major bills without the support of Democrats.
One of the top priorities for Trump and his MAGA allies will be border security. During his campaign, Trump had asserted that the southern border with Mexico will be "sealed" on Day 1 of his presidency. He recently appointed Tom Homan as the "border czar", repeating his call for the largest deportation in the US history.
Another important step would be extending tax cuts introduced during Trump's first administration and restricting government spending.
The Republicans elected Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise to lead for two more years on Wednesday. In the Senate, South Dakota Senator John Thune was elected in a secret ballot as the Senate majority leader, defeating MAGA-backed Florida Senator Rick Scott, who was endorsed by Elon Musk.
Republicans also voted to reelect House Majority Whip Tom Emmer besides picking Michigan Rep Lisa McClain as conference chair.
