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The World Ahead | United States in 2025

Where Donald Trump will be constrained—and where he will not

The MAGA scale of policy plausibility provides a handy five-part guide

Uncle Sam looking unhappy.
image: Ben Hickey

By John Prideaux, United States editor, The Economist

The 47th president of America will be less constrained than the 45th president was, even though they are the same person. Donald Trump will enjoy more deference from his staff, his party and the courts than he did in his first term. That is not the same as saying there will be no constraints on him. Where can he be expected to get his way on his domestic-policy agenda in 2025—and where will he struggle?

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This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition of The World Ahead 2025 under the headline “The MAGA scale of policy plausibility”

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