On election night, Donald Trump reiterated his mantra: “Promises made, promises kept.” With Republicans now controlling Congress, Trump’s full power in government makes fulfilling his promises more attainable.
In Washington, a “governing trifecta” means one party holds the presidency, the House, and the Senate—something Republicans now enjoy under Trump. While such control was once common, recent years have seen it become rarer and often short-lived, with parties frequently losing seats in midterm elections.
Both Trump and Biden started their terms with trifectas, leading to significant legislative achievements but also major setbacks. Trump managed to pass a corporate tax cut, yet faced resistance within his own party, which hindered his attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and pass infrastructure reform. Biden, on the other hand, succeeded with initiatives like the American Rescue Plan but had to scale back his “Build Back Better” agenda due to Democratic opposition.
The filibuster rule in the Senate requires 60 votes to end debate, meaning Trump’s party, even with a majority, will need some bipartisan support to pass key legislation. Though John Thune was selected over Rick Scott as Senate Majority Leader, signaling some Republican independence from Trump, a trifecta allows significant legislative potential.
Trump is expected to focus on core promises, such as mass deportations, increased tariffs, and environmental deregulation. Unlike executive orders, achieving these through legislation could make them harder to overturn in court, a common issue during Trump’s first term. Additionally, with a conservative-leaning Supreme Court and appeals courts due to Trump’s prior appointments, his agenda has greater judicial backing.
With a Senate majority, Trump’s administration will also face fewer obstacles in confirming appointments to key government roles. Yet, with trifectas often fleeting, there is pressure to act swiftly on legislative goals before the next election.
North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher provides further analysis in his “US Election Unspun” newsletter, available for readers in the UK and worldwide.
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