Article Summary –
Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign was characterized by numerous promises, many of which were not fulfilled during his first term, leading to a repetition of similar pledges for his 2024 campaign. Key promises from 2016, such as authorizing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, implementing large tax cuts for middle and lower-income individuals, and replacing the Affordable Care Act with a comprehensive health plan, were either abandoned or inadequately addressed, with tax reforms favoring the wealthy and economic growth targets unmet. In his 2024 campaign, Trump reiterated commitments such as tax cuts for workers, eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits and overtime income, and proposing tariffs to fund child care, despite skepticism about the sincerity and feasibility of these promises.
During his 2016 presidential bid, Donald Trump made numerous promises about his White House agenda. Despite falling short on key pledges during his first term, Trump revived many of them for his 2024 campaign.
On Nov. 7, Ron Filipkowski from MeidasTouch Network highlighted 93 promises Trump made on video this year. Additional promises appeared on his campaign site, during the Sep. 10 debate, and a Sept. 5 economic policy address.
Though many promises targeted right-wing social policy, like abolishing the Department of Education, Trump also vowed to implement economic policies aiding working families and lowering consumer costs.
Ryan Koronowski of the Center for American Progress Action Fund tracked 663 promises from Trump’s 2016 run, noting insincerity or lack of interest in fulfilling them. He cited corporate interests overriding Trump’s pledge to let Medicare negotiate drug prices.
In 2016, Trump vowed to let the government negotiate with pharmaceutical firms to save $300 billion annually. Yet, he later opposed legislation to enforce this, aligning with industry arguments against it.
Trump’s promise of significant tax cuts and economic growth for lower-income Americans went unmet. In 2016, he projected 4% GDP growth, optimistically suggesting it could reach 5% or 6%. He also pledged to replace Obamacare with a “terrific” healthcare plan for all Americans, which never materialized.
The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act favored the wealthy, missing broader promised tax cuts. GDP under Trump did not achieve 4% growth until late 2020, recovering from a COVID-19-induced contraction. No replacement healthcare plan emerged; instead, a failed bill aimed to repeal Obamacare, risking millions losing coverage.
Unfulfilled 2016 promises included rebuilding cities, restoring manufacturing jobs, lowering tuition, and ending drug addiction.
For 2024, Trump proposed a “large tax cut for workers,” ending taxes on tips, Social Security, and overtime, and capping credit card interest rates. He claimed to have “concepts of a plan” for improved health insurance and suggested tariffs could fund child care.
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