Janice R. Andrews
Former President Donald Trump has once again shown his capacity to modify, or rather, reinvent, his policy positions in order to appeal to people in a political environment that is continuously changing. Trump’s latest policy changes—whether they include doing away with tip taxes, changing his mind on TikTok, or endorsing cryptocurrencies—show that he is consciously trying to appeal to a wide range of voters as he seeks to win back the White House.
Changing the Tip: Giving Instead of Taking
In a recent address to a conference, Trump put up a proposal to do away with tip taxes, casting it as a step toward helping the middle class and alleviating the plight of American hospitality workers. As he said, “Everybody loves it,” Trump received applause from the assembly. The concept is straightforward: drivers, waitstaff, and caddies could retain more of their hard-earned money.
But this plan represents a significant shift from his position throughout his administration. When it came to federal rules, Trump’s Labor Department suggested modifications in 2017. These changes would have let businesses to keep tip money generated by their employees and use it for whatever purpose, provided that the employees were paid the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Labor activists fiercely opposed this proposal, claiming that it would allow bosses to keep tips hidden and use them anyway they pleased, potentially losing tipped workers billions of dollars a year.
Legislators clarified in a 2018 federal funding measure that businesses were not permitted to retain any share of gratuities received by their staff members in response to strong criticism. In spite of this, Trump’s recent comments on tips appear to be an effort to reposition himself as a supporter of the working class, especially those employed in the service sector, ahead of the 2024 election.
TikTok: Booster to Ban
Not only recommendations are being reversed by Trump’s policies. Due to national security concerns over TikTok’s ownership by the Chinese business ByteDance, Trump signed an executive order in 2020 amid growing tensions with China, banning the application from American app stores. A federal court temporarily overturned the prohibition, enabling TikTok to carry on with business as usual in the United States.
In 2024, Trump has turned into a vociferous advocate for TikTok. Trump recently attacked the Biden administration’s attempts to compel the sale of TikTok, claiming that such moves would help China, in an interview with online celebrity Adin Ross. “We’re going to save TikTok; they want to destroy TikTok,” Trump said as he pleaded with the platform’s users to back him.
Many believe that this abrupt change in stance is a planned attempt to win over younger voters who are heavy platform users. It also seems that former administration officials pushing on behalf of billionaire Republican contributor and TikTok investor Jeff Yass had an impact on Trump’s recent shift in support for the app.
Cryptocurrency: Moving From Skeptic to Advocate
When it comes to cryptocurrency, Trump has also changed his mind. Trump was an outspoken opponent of digital currencies throughout his administration, claiming they might be used for illicit purposes and characterizing them as extremely volatile and having no inherent value.
But as a contender for president in 2024, Trump has embraced the cryptocurrency space, taking millions of dollars in donations in cryptocurrency and enabling fans to buy Trump-branded goods using Bitcoin. In addition, Trump has positioned himself as a supporter of the cryptocurrency industry, promising to make the United States the “crypto capital of the planet” and the Bitcoin “superpower of the world.” The Republican Party platform now includes a promise to preserve the freedom to mine Bitcoin.
During a recent Bitcoin conference in Nashville, Trump pledged to allow the business to expand under his guidance, criticizing the Biden administration for stunting its progress. Trump stated, “If cryptocurrency is going to define the future, I want it to be mined, minted, and made in the USA,” highlighting his aim to serve the millions of Americans who utilize cryptocurrencies.
The Manoeuvre Underpinning the Changes
The recent changes in Trump’s policies can be interpreted as a component of a larger plan to set himself apart from his rivals, especially Vice President Kamala Harris, and to project an image of himself as a populist leader who pays attention to the worries of the American people.
Although policy changes are not unusual in political campaigns, Trump’s ability to shift course on important issues—often directly contradicting his prior positions—demonstrates his adaptability to appeal to a variety of voter demographics. Trump’s changed stances on TikTok and cryptocurrencies, according to economist Stephen Moore, who advised Trump’s 2016 campaign, show that he is becoming more “pro-technology” and supporting platforms that appeal to people.
Difficulties Ahead
Trump has a lot of obstacles to overcome despite his attempts to win over supporters with his new policy views. Unite Here, the organization representing workers in the hotel industry, has backed Kamala Harris for vice president. Nia Winston, the secretary-treasurer of the union, issued a warning, stating that another Trump administration would result in “significant setbacks” for workers’ rights. Winston chastised Trump for his labor record, branding him a “hotel and casino owner with a record of labor abuses”.
Furthermore, it’s unclear if Trump’s embrace of cryptocurrencies and TikTok will be sufficient to win him back to the White House, even though these changes may appeal to some voter segments. Critics contend that rather than being sincere pledges to the American people, his policy reversals are just election-year stunts meant to get votes.
Results
Donald Trump’s evolving stances on tips, TikTok, and cryptocurrencies as the 2024 election draws near demonstrate his readiness to modify his platform to win over a wide range of supporters. It remains to be seen if these adjustments will result in electoral success, but one thing is certain: Trump is committed to changing his public persona and platform in order to regain the presidency.
