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Ten years after Trump’s golden escalator announcement, Republicans campaign on transformed agenda

Trump's Republican Party looks wildly different from ten years ago, and Republicans must codify and expand his populist ideas if they want to hold the majority in next year's midterm election.

By:

Amanda Head

June 17, 2025

As congressional representatives head home to campaign in their districts this week, the party priorities look very different from those of 2015.

Ten years ago, when then-candidate Donald Trump descended the golden escalator at his midtown Manhattan Trump Towers property, it produced a spark that spread American populism fire throughout the Republican Party, a party which at the time was mired by warmongering, false promises of fiscal responsibility and acquiescing to leftist accusations and policy.

The official party platform in 2015 remained the party agenda from the previous general election in 2012. The priorities enumerated weren’t that far off from what was listed in the 2024 party platform. But, even four months into his second term, President Donald Trump clearly took his promises seriously and is working to enact what voters sent him to Washington to do.

In 2012, the Republican Platform titled “We Believe In America” was 62 pages and was adopted at the Tampa, Florida Republican National Convention. It reflected the personality and politics of then-candidate Mitt Romney. In 2024, the Republican Platform, titled “Make America Great Again,” clocked in at 16 pages, consisting of 20 clear and concise agenda items. Among those items: to seal the border and stop the migrant invasion, to carry out historic deportation operations, to make America affordable again, to make Trump’s tax cuts from 2018 permanent, to strengthen and modernize the military, to keep men out of women’s sports and to keep the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency.

Economy

The 2012 platform, in many more words, emphasized reducing the federal deficit through spending cuts and supported a balanced budget amendment with a cap on federal spending. It also advocated for a simpler, flatter tax code with lower rates for individuals and businesses to stimulate economic growth. The official party platform expressed opposition to new taxes and aimed to make the bush tax cuts from 2001 and 2003 permanent. Unsurprisingly, it promoted free market policies and reducing government interference to encourage economic growth and entrepreneurship, particularly supporting small businesses.

Trump’s economic ideas similarly reflect those from the 2012 platform, with demonstrably more muscle and enactment. The Trump Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) lowered income tax rates across most brackets, with the top rate dropping from 39.6% to 37%. The standard deduction nearly doubled (e.g., $12,000 to $24,000 for married couples), benefiting about 70% of taxpayers who take it over itemizing. The Tax Policy Center estimated 65% of households saw tax cuts in 2018, averaging $1,600, though benefits skewed toward higher earners.

Government reform

Similar to the party platform from 2024, the 2012 platform called for rolling back excessive regulations, particularly those from the Obama administration and appointing judges who adhere to constitutional originals. It called for reducing the size and scope of the federal government, returning power to states and individuals. It advocated for eliminating wasteful programs and reforming. Sound familiar? If so, that’s because many Americans voted on this very issue in support of what is now the Department of Government Efficiency instituted under Trump.

National defense and foreign policy

The 2012 platform, similar to Trump’s agenda, called for maintaining a robust national defense, modernizing the military, and ensuring adequate funding. It opposed budget cuts and advocated for American exceptionalism, supporting allies like Israel and confronting adversaries like Iran. It also promoted democracy abroad, which is a departure from Trump’s platform which advocated for “no new wars” and a strong opposition to the nation-building ways of the Republicans of 2012.

Social issues

While many Republicans take issue with the novel “big tent” personality of the party present day, it’s undeniable that on one particular traditional issue, abortion, Trump has done more to protect the sanctity of life that any other president. The 2012 platform supported a constitutional amendment to protect unborn life and opposed funding for abortion through organizations like. The 2012 platform also sought a constitutional amendment to define marriage between one man and one woman.

Education

In 2012, the party platform, promoted parental choice and education, including charter schools, vouchers, and homeschooling. It opposed federal overreach in education. It also called for reducing federal involvement in student loans and encouraging private sector alternatives and trade schools. One of the 20 policy points in the 2014 MAGA agenda was to, “cut federal funding for any school pushing critical race theory, radical gender ideology, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children.” On March 20, 2025, Trump issued an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all legally permissible steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and transfer its authority to states and local communities.