Conservative radio host Erick Erickson has warned that President Trump's second-term agenda is largely reversible and that the president may need to strike deals with Democrats to secure a lasting legislative legacy.
In an interview with NewsNation's Leland Vittert, Erickson described Trump's current approach as "the most impermanent second term of any president in American history," noting that aside from a cryptocurrency bill, the Laken Riley Act, and the tax bill, nearly everything else has been done through executive orders that could be undone by a future president.
Trump has leaned heavily on executive orders to advance key policies, including tariffs, election regulations, and birthright citizenship—many of which have faced legal challenges or been blocked by the Supreme Court. According to the American Presidency Project at UC Santa Barbara, Trump is issuing executive orders at a pace not seen since Franklin D. Roosevelt, averaging 166 per year.
The fragility of such actions is well-illustrated by the Paris climate agreement: Trump withdrew in his first term, Biden rejoined on day one, and Trump exited again in his second term's first week. Erickson argues that this cycle underscores the need for more permanent legislative achievements if Trump wants to be remembered as a transformational president.
"The orders can all be undone unless he does cut some deals with the Democrats," Erickson said. "He wants credit in history for being a transformational president. He's transformed nothing that can't be turned back the day after he leaves office."
Trump has expressed willingness to work with Democrats, as he told the Wall Street Journal on election night, but he also noted his veto power. However, with Democrats projected to control at least 54 Senate seats and 251 House seats in the 120th Congress, according to Decision Desk HQ, any legislation will require bipartisan support.
Still, Erickson is skeptical that Democrats will cooperate, suggesting they may prefer to focus on investigations. "I don't know that the Democrats are willing to work with him. I think they want to spend their time investigating," he said. "The Democrats believe they've been affirmed back into their righteousness as well."
Erickson also cautioned that neither party is likely to draw the right lessons from the midterm results, which could fuel further voter anger. "The only thing that I can guarantee about this election is neither side is going to win or understand the right lessons," he said. "And that's going to drive further rage of the voters."
As the new Congress prepares to convene, the question of whether Trump can forge a lasting legacy—or whether his actions will be reversed—remains central to his final two years in office. For more on the political dynamics, see analysis of the GOP's midterm losses.
