As Time’s Person of the Year, Trump outlines his second-term agenda: NPR

As Time’s Person of the Year, Trump outlines his second-term agenda: NPR

President-elect Donald Trump speaks at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) after being named Time's

President-elect Donald Trump speaks at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) after being named Time’s “Person of the Year” for the second time in New York on Thursday.

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President-elect Donald Trump continues to outline the first priorities of his second administration, including pardoning some of the January 6 defendants, instituting mass deportations and reversing his predecessor’s actions.

Trump did a wide-ranging interview with Time magazine after being named Person of the Year for a second time, discussing his plans for a second term that once seemed unlikely.

He suggested using the military to carry out deportations on American soil and continued to call illegal immigration an “invasion of our country.” He suggested that the government could eliminate some childhood vaccination requirements and outlined his thoughts on ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, among other things.

Trump also reflected on his win over Vice President Kamala Harris last month, touting a “flawless” campaign that “struck the heart of the country” and focused on immigration, the economy and other issues he said resonated more with voters The Democrats’ messages resonated.

“I don’t think they got a feel for the country,” he said in the transcript of the interview. Trump also said that under his leadership, the Republican Party had become the party of “common sense.”

While Trump said in the interview that he has a “massive” mandate after the election, the political reality in Washington is more complicated than the mantle he claims. Even though Republicans will soon control the White House and both chambers of Congress, there are still real hurdles lining the path to implementing his vision.

Republicans’ slim majority in the House will shrink if the Senate confirms Rep. Elise Stefanik as United Nations ambassador and Mike Waltz as its national security adviser. Other candidates for top positions such as defense secretary, health and human services secretary and FBI director also came under closer scrutiny.

Speaking about his being named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year as the bell rang at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday morning, Trump quipped: “I think I actually like it better this time.”

“I want to thank Time Magazine. I’ve been on the cover many times, I don’t know if there’s a record, but I can only give a good account of 25% of the covers,” he said with a laugh. “25% is great, I just hide the rest.”

“It was an honor and it’s an honor every time,” Trump added.

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