Trump backs drug price caps, child tax credit expansion, and taxing the rich, reshaping the GOP with crossover policies.

Trump Champions 'Common Sense' Agenda with Bipartisan Roots

President Donald Trump is charting a new course for the Republican Party by incorporating policy ideas historically championed by Democrats, aiming to deliver what he calls a “golden age” for America. Emphasizing pragmatism and results over rigid ideology, Trump declared, “The Republican Party is now known as the party of common sense.”

At a press conference alongside Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump signed an executive order capping prescription drug prices at levels paid in other developed nations. “Americans will pay no more than the lowest price paid abroad,” Trump stated, predicting immediate price drops of up to 90%. He accused pharmaceutical giants of profiteering with the help of politicians and pledged to end what he called foreign healthcare subsidies funded by U.S. consumers.

The move drew praise from Kennedy, a lifelong Democrat and longtime proponent of lowering drug costs. “Every major Democratic leader promised this for 20 years, but President Trump actually did it,” Kennedy said. Senator Bernie Sanders also voiced support for the measure, despite concerns that courts may strike it down.

Trump’s agenda also includes expanding the child tax credit, another cornerstone of Democratic platforms. Proposals released by House Republicans last week suggest increasing the maximum credit from $2,000 to $2,500 per child. During his campaign, Trump supported a “significant expansion” of the credit, echoing calls from Democrats like Vice President Kamala Harris and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Trump Backs Wealth Tax, Breaks with GOP Tradition

In a further departure from traditional GOP orthodoxy, Trump expressed openness to taxing the wealthy to aid lower- and middle-income Americans. “Rich people, including myself, would love to do it,” he wrote on Truth Social. “It’s really a redistribution.” While cautioning that Democrats may distort the message, he stated he would support such a policy if Republican lawmakers approve it.

Democrats have long campaigned on “tax the rich” slogans to reduce income inequality, with figures like Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren leading the charge. President Joe Biden also proposed reversing Trump-era tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy during his 2020 campaign.

Trump’s ideological pivot is also reflected in his evolving political alliances. Former Democrats such as Kennedy and Tulsi Gabbard, now Republican, have rallied behind Trump’s vision. Even Elon Musk, once a Democrat-leaning tech billionaire, endorsed Trump and now serves as a public government official.

Sen. JD Vance emphasized this bipartisan support while campaigning with Trump, citing endorsements from Kennedy and Gabbard as evidence that Trump’s message is resonating beyond the GOP base. “We got a lot of great Democratic support,” Vance noted, “because this is about common sense.”

As Trump prepares for the next phase of his presidency, his efforts to redefine the Republican Party appear focused on aligning with everyday Americans’ economic concerns. “We’re conservative, yes,” Trump told Republican governors, “but most important is we have to use common sense.”