US Republicans Confirm Majority in House... 'Red Sweep' Becomes Reality

Reuters Yonhap News

The U.S. Republican Party secured majority status in the House of Representatives following the Senate, in the congressional elections held alongside the presidential election on the 5th (local time). This marks the realization of a 'Red Sweep,' with the Republican Party controlling both the executive and legislative branches.

According to foreign media such as ABC and CBS on the 13th (local time), the Republican Party secured a majority of 218 seats in the House elections, where all 435 seats are contested and vote counting is ongoing in some districts. The Democratic Party obtained 208 seats.

As a result, the Republican Party now controls the White House as well as both chambers of Congress. Earlier, in the Senate elections, the Republican Party secured more than 52 out of 100 seats, becoming the majority party early on.

With control of both chambers, it is expected that President-elect Donald Trump will be able to easily push forward various policies.

According to ABC, the Republican Party's top priority is to extend the 'Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA),' which expires next year. The TCJA, enacted during Trump's first term in 2017, primarily lowered the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, and President-elect Trump pledged to further reduce the corporate tax rate to 15%.

Additionally, Trump's campaign promises such as building a border wall, mass deportation of illegal immigrants, and major revisions to the Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as Obamacare) are expected to proceed smoothly with congressional cooperation.

Moreover, since the judiciary is also composed of allies of President-elect Trump, some express concerns that Trump may wield unchecked power.

During his first term in office (January 2017?January 2021), Trump appointed three conservative Supreme Court justices consecutively, shifting the composition of the U.S. Supreme Court (9 justices: 6 conservatives, 3 liberals) to a conservative majority.