Donald Trump faces serious challenges as president. Ending the war in Israel, the nuclear deal with Iran and normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia are just part of his ambitious plans. At the same time, American voters expect significant reforms in the economy and immigration, raising questions about national unity.
Channel 12 listed the main challenges for the next American president.
American economy
While the U.S. economy looks strong on paper, many Americans don’t feel it. At the end of 2024, people do not see any improvement in their financial situation in the last four years, some believe that the situation has even worsened. The gap between low unemployment and record levels on Wall Street is causing discontent among ordinary citizens.
The main problem in recent years has been inflation, which has increased 22% in four years. Despite a slight slowdown in price growth, Americans continue to see increased spending on essential goods. Trump will have to implement reforms that will directly reduce costs for the public.
The key question is whether Trump will be able to push through reforms on health insurance, health care and high interest rates. In the short term, it will probably focus on real financial relief for citizens.
Immigration
There is a general understanding that the immigration and border systems in the United States need major changes. In a country built by immigrants, the issue of migration has become extremely pressing in recent years. Illegal border crossings reached a record 250,000 in December 2023 and, although they have decreased since then, the border remains vulnerable. Some migrants risk their lives crossing South America to the border with Mexico.
The crisis is caused in part by political changes in South American countries, but even Trump’s Democratic critics agree that reform is needed. The issue has generated divisions between the parties long before the current election cycle.
Trump previously promoted the idea of a border wall, although it failed to be fully built. Meanwhile, the Biden administration used temporary measures during the pandemic, but they have now been lifted. A comprehensive border policy is needed that also sends a clear message to potential illegal immigrants.
Polarization in society
The division in the United States has reached critical levels. The polarization between Republicans and Democrats is visible both in the public and on social media, creating a tense atmosphere. President Joe Biden has tried to unite the nation by promising to be a “president for everyone,” but that message of unity has not resonated widely.
Restoring confidence in American democracy will be one of Trump’s toughest challenges. With memories still fresh of the assault on the Capitol in 2021, the new president must ease tensions and restore trust in law enforcement and democratic institutions.
Foreign policy
The United States plays a key role in several global crises, especially in the Middle East. The wars in Gaza and Lebanon, the threat of escalation with Iran, ceasefire negotiations and the release of Gaza hostages are urgent issues awaiting Trump’s attention. He has already declared that he intends to end the wars as soon as possible.
During the election campaign, Trump promised to renegotiate the nuclear deal with Iran. He intends to succeed where Biden failed: ending the war in Gaza, reaching a deal with Iran, freeing the hostages and promoting normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and perhaps with other countries.
The war in Ukraine, which has continued since February 2022, also remains a major issue. The new president will have to decide how to proceed with aid to Ukraine, a point of contention between Republicans and Democrats. Among the priorities will also be relations with the Russian Federation and China, which are trying to weaken the position of the United States.
These threats relate to both the economy and national security. From attempts to interfere in elections to undermining the economic power of the United States, Russia and China pose serious challenges. Strengthening alliances with other Western and Asian countries to counter these powers through economic alliances and refocusing attention on the issue will be important objectives.
Cursor previously wrote that Iran spoke boldly about Trump’s victory, mentioning Israel.
