The US presidential election

Triple victory for Trump: "Dream mode"
Looks like getting a majority in Congress

Mariela Quintana Melin

Updated 12.22 | Published 11.10

Quick version

• Republikanerna ser ut att nå majoritet i både representanthuset och senaten, vilket underlättar för Trump att genomföra sin politiska agenda.
• Merrick Tabor, statsvetare på Stockholms universitet, menar att Trump planerar att ersätta oberoende tjänstemän med republikanska sympatisörer, vilket är en del av Project 2025.
• En trippelseger kan påverka frågor som abortlagstiftning och invandringspolitik samt ge Trump ökad befogenhet över ekonomin, inklusive möjligheten att påverka Centralbanken.

 Republicans look set to gain majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, making it easier for Trump to implement his policy agenda.
 Merrick Tabor, a political scientist at Stockholm University, believes that Trump plans to replace independent officials with Republican sympathizers, which is part of Project 2025.
 A triple victory could affect issues such as abortion legislation and immigration policy, as well as give Trump increased power over the economy, including the ability to influence the Central Bank.

It looks like Donald Trump is heading for a triple victory and that the Republicans will get a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

It will make it much easier for Donald Trump to do what he wants.

- This time Trump and his associates are prepared to transform the entire system, says Merrick Tabor, political scientist at Stockholm University.

- We are entering a golden era for America. "We will make America great again". We have taken back control of the Senate, Trump said in his victory speech, continuing:

- We must help our country heal. We have a country that needs help, that really needs help. We will fix the border and everything else.

It is not completely clear yet. But everything points to the Republicans winning both chambers of Congress – the House of Representatives and the Senate. A dream for an American president.

- All presidents want a situation like this. This means that you can get your agenda through. Legislation can be passed much more easily. There is less opposition to things that he wants to implement, says Alex Lange, a political analyst who previously worked for the Democrats.

Merrick Tabor, political scientist at Stockholm University and expert on American politics, agrees.

- I think that in the first few days he will fire thousands of independent officials and appoint officials who are loyal to the Republicans. And thus redo the entire administrative apparatus. It's no secret, those plans are in the conservative political program - Project 2025.

Officially, Trump has distanced himself from Project 2025, saying he does not know the plans in detail. At the same time, many from his previous government have been involved in the project. Merrick Tabor still believes that Trump will want to implement several of the proposals.

- For example, if you replace the officials who work with approving medicines, you can much more easily control which medicines will be sold - and which will be banned, Merrick Tabor continues.

Another thing that Merrick Tabor believes that Trump will quickly do is to drop all charges in which he himself is a suspect.

- Then he has also promised to release all those sentenced to prison after the storming of the Capitol, says Merrick Tabor.

Donald Trump. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP

Biggest difference: Experience

Congress is the highest legislative body of the United States. They have power over the budget, tax policy and much else. If you have a majority, you don't have to negotiate as much - and the Democrats' ability to block bills decreases.

But the biggest difference from the last time Trump took over the White House is that this time he has experience – and a clear plan in Project 2025, says Merrick Tabor.

- When he first took office, he and his employees had no major competence. They did not know how the state apparatus worked. Then there were others in the administration with more experience who could possibly stop him, says Merrick Tabor.

Now, however, it is different.

- Even if Trump is not so personally knowledgeable that he could handle this on his own, he now has knowledgeable people around him. They are knowledgeable and know exactly how to proceed. It's really a big difference from last time, says Merrick Tabor.

Alex Lange generally sees that the entire Republican Party has become more loyal to Trump.

- The administration will probably look different compared to last time. This means that he will have fewer people who speak against him, says Alex Lange.

Trump gives a victory speech on the vigil. Photo: Julia Demaree Nikhinson / AP

This can happen

The major election issues in the US have been about the economy, abortion and immigration. Here's how Merrick Tabor thinks a triple win for Trump could affect those issues:

Abortion:

Congress cannot outright ban abortion throughout the United States because it is a matter now decided at the state level after Roe vs. Wade was overturned in 2022. However, Congress can try to introduce a federal law regulating abortion, and that requires approval by both the House of Representatives and the Senate , and that the president signs the law. With a triple victory for Trump, it becomes possible.

Another possibility is to ban or withdraw licenses for certain drugs used in abortions.

Donald Trump wants to mass deport a million people who do not have the right to stay in the United States. It's to strengthen immigration laws and secure the border.

But it will cost a lot of money. By having the power over Congress, it will be easier for Trump to get through that money should be spent on mass deportation

The economy:

The president has a lot of power over the economy. Trump has discussed taking control of the Central Bank. It would be possible even without the support of Congress, but now it will be easier.

- There is a long tradition in the US that the central bank should be independent, but there is really nothing that regulates it. By taking control, you can, for example, lower interest rates, says Merrick Taylor.