United States | Lexington

The promise Donald Trump is sure to keep

He wants more freedom to fire civil servants, but he should weigh the long-term consequences

Cartoon of Donald Trump getting ready to fire a cannon with bureaucrats coming out of it.
Illustration: David Simonds

Donald Trump’s politics are so elastic that it is impossible to be certain what he means when he promises, as he did on election night, to “govern by a simple motto: promises made, promises kept”. Will he judge himself a failure if he does not end the war in Ukraine before he takes office?

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This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline “On his majesty’s civil service”

From the November 16th 2024 edition

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Donald Trump speaks to the media.

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A more fragmented media is tougher to manage

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What the sensational undoing of the black leader means for Mississippi’s failing capital


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Does Donald Trump have unlimited authority to impose tariffs?

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As Jack Smith exits, Donald Trump’s allies hint at retribution

The president-elect hopes to hand the Justice Department to loyalists