Donald Trump’s 2024 election promises were radical, delivered with bravado.

From day one, then-candidate Trump pledged to begin mass deportations, to pardon the January 6 rioters, to begin dismantling the “deep state,” to end the “Green New Deal,” to cut federal funding for schools promoting “radical gender ideology” and “drill, baby, drill” – shorthand for increasing fossil fuel production.

President-elect Trump will not be a dictator – “except day 1“, he said last year.

Over the decades, American presidents have exercised increasing power from the outset by signing a series of executive orders. President Joe Biden signed a record 42 such orders in his first 100 days, many of them reversing the policies of Mr. Trump, his predecessor. Today, as the former president returns to power in January after a sweeping electoral victory, his pen is ready.

Executive power has its limits, and civil liberties groups will be closely watching Mr. Trump’s actions. There will be lawsuits that could block certain court orders. Some orders will also likely require congressional action.

Still, expect the first day – and the 99 days that follow – to be exhilarating. During the campaign, Mr. Trump talked about going after political opponents, from anonymous “radical leftists” to named Democratic leaders whom he called “the enemy from within.”