- Virginia swears in three new congressmen, including two Democrats and one Republican.
- Speaker Mike Johnson re-elected despite a slim majority in the House.
- President-elect Trump plans to use century-old laws to push forward his immigration and border policies.
The new Congress officially convened with the swearing-in of three new members from Virginia. This includes Democrats Eugene Vindman and Suhas Subramanyam, as well as Republican John McGuire, all of whom voted in the House Speaker election.
As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, he is looking back at historical laws to fuel his administration’s policies, particularly in immigration.
Trump’s Bold Legal Strategies Meet a New Congress Under Speaker Mike Johnson
Virginia’s congressional delegation grew by three members following Friday’s swearing-in ceremony. With two new Democrats—Eugene Vindman and Suhas Subramanyam—and one new Republican, John McGuire, the balance of power in the state’s delegation remains unchanged. The first votes from these members were crucial, as they participated in selecting the new House Speaker. Despite the slim majority, Speaker Mike Johnson was re-elected to lead the chamber.
This new Congress will grapple with legislative priorities, particularly for House Republicans, who are looking to advance an ambitious agenda. Key topics of discussion include the contentious budget reconciliation process, which could allow Republicans to bypass Democratic opposition in passing major bills. These discussions will be crucial as the GOP focuses on pushing its legislative goals under its control of both chambers of Congress and the White House.
Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump is preparing to lean heavily on historical legal powers to pursue his political agenda. He has indicated his intention to use a little-known 1798 law to expedite deportations, highlighting his firm stance on immigration reform. Trump’s allies, including Vice President-elect JD Vance, have also supported the idea of reviving outdated laws to enforce more conservative measures on border control and even potentially ban abortion drug shipments.
This bold approach by Trump is expected to lead to legal confrontations, particularly as many of these powers have controversial backgrounds. While Trump frames these efforts as a return to stronger governance, the upcoming legal battles will play a pivotal role in shaping his presidency, especially as they make their way to the conservative-leaning Supreme Court.
The early days of the new Congress and Trump’s preparations for office set the stage for a tense political climate, with high-stakes legal and legislative battles ahead.
“Think of that: We had to go back to 1798,” Trump said, reflecting on his plans to invoke century-old laws to shape his presidential agenda.
