Donald Trump has marked his first week as president-elect. It has been eventful enough to set the stage for his second term in office. He declared a loyal but controversial cabinet, targeted to reform US foreign policy entirely. In this way, the beginning of the journey of Trump post-election brought much cause for concern and excitement. We look at the significant moves, decisions, and omens that followed in Trump’s first week in office to consider if they fit the troubling red flags or promise change as Washington prepares for a third victory with him at the helm.

1. A Loyalist Cabinet: Radical Change in the Administration

Perhaps one of the most impressive features of Trump’s first week is that he has acted with haste to build a cabinet filled with loyalists-many of whom have far less political experience but share Trump’s vision for drastic changes in government. Rather than picking seasoned experts or bipartisan figures, Trump’s picks have reflected his desire to disrupt the status quo.

For example, his choice to head the Defense Department has been quoted as saying that military leaders who operate on “woke” principles should be purged, while his choice for health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has promised to cut whole departments at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and rid the system of “rot” in US health agencies. He also wants to create a new department headed by tech moguls Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, with a mission of deregulation and even cutting costs in government operations.

While this strategy shows a program for radical reform, it also raises some concerns. Its critics argue that people not knowing the government posts set them in those positions and might bring disorder and inefficiency. His focus on loyalty rather than qualification may detach some members of political circles, which will mean hard times for burdensome legislation to pass.

2) A Republican Congress: An Open Path For Legislation

One of the hallmarks of Trump’s presidency has been his relationship with Congress, and this time around, he is likely to push his agenda less against resistance because Republicans command a majority in both houses. The narrow GOP majorities in both houses will make it easy for Trump to pass key legislation on issues like tax reform, immigration, or deregulation.

Congress, which happens to be Republican-controlled, might share the policy priorities of President-elect Trump:

• Mass deportations
• Sweeping tariffs on imports
• Considerable rollback in environmental protections

In contrast to his first term, when Democrats often used their control of both houses of Congress to block his proposals, this legislative environment is friendlier toward his ideas taking off.

This cohesion among Republicans, however, might not hold up in the long run. Senate Republicans have already demonstrated pushback against Trump’s control by rejecting his favored candidate, Rick Scott, in the just concluded election for Senate leadership; John Thune defeated Rick Scott. The ballot was secret and thus not an outright public repudiation of Trump, but a signal of divisions within the GOP that might make it harder for him to force more divisive initiatives.

3) Legal Menace Lurks: Trump’s Criminal Guilt Might Be Reversed

Trump’s legal troubles refuse to disappear, but he appears to have finally triumphed in the struggle for the presidency. The controversy hasn’t eased off a bit. Still, one development is his potential criminal fraud conviction for the Hush Money case, which can be overturned after the Supreme Court rules on presidential immunity.

Although his legal team is yet to receive a final judgment, possibly an overturn or delay of his conviction, that’s a strong development. Ultimately, clearing his name legally would enable him to divert much energy towards attaining his agenda for the second term. Judges often delay rulings, and in this case, combined with possibly delaying Trump’s sentencing, his legal woes are likely to do little to hamstring him shortly further.

4) A Tougher Stance on China: Confronting Global Rivalry

Trump’s focus on China is one of the most blunt signals of the first week of being president-elect. For his first term, Trump pursued an aggressive policy against Beijing, and the second term is equally poised to continue that much-needed antagonistic posture toward it. Among the official choices for his cabinet have been Marco Rubio for Secretary of State and Mike Waltz for National Security Adviser, both of whom have subscribed to the notion that China threatened the US’s paramount position in economic and military power.

More threatening rhetoric and proposed policies, including tariffs, export controls, and more substantial diplomatic pressure on Beijing, suggest that the second term will see Trump take an even harder line against China. It is a policy offensive that has found support among specific segments of the US political establishment, especially given China’s increasing global influence and assertiveness in regional conflicts.

Aggressive behavior, however, might lead to even more vicious implications for China and further instability on the global political agenda. A “cold war” scenario between the US and China is thus likely to be a formidable concern for most international observers.

5) Red flags or promising change?

Will such opening moves signal red flags or, finally, real change? On the one hand, the loyalist approach to cabinet appointments and first thrusts on deregulation and cost-cutting offer a window of time to rock Washington and pursue a more efficient government. Similarly, as contentious as it is, his unstinting position on China and foreign policy will also resonate with those who now see Beijing as an ever more emerging threat to US interests.

On the flip side, the trust should be reflected in policy errors made by the Trump administration. His aggressive foreign policy and polarizing domestic policies may alienate the nation’s key allies and make governing more difficult. Furthermore, his ongoing court cases may remain an albatross for the presidency and undermine his legitimacy.

Conclusion: What’s Next

This will mark the beginning of Trump’s presidency with a first week setting the tone for what promises to be a tumultuous, possibly transformational, second term. Whether bold reform or political chaos will define this period remains to be seen. Relying on a loyal cabinet, a supportive Congress, and aggressive takes on China will see nearly all of Trump’s central promises rolled out. However, the dangers of alienating his internal and international stakeholders, combined with his legal woes, could jeopardize the success of his presidency. In the coming months of the formation of his administration, it’s these following months that will tell if Trump’s vision brings meaningful change or further entrenches the political divides.