Before & After: Trump’s rhetoric makeover
Updated 10:36, 28-Jun-2018
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Donald Trump will officially become the 45th president of the United States on Friday – but what kind of president is he going to be? 
This file photo shows US President-elect Donald Trump waving to the media in Bedminster, New Jersey, November 20, 2016. /CFP Photo

This file photo shows US President-elect Donald Trump waving to the media in Bedminster, New Jersey, November 20, 2016. /CFP Photo

The real-estate mogul, who bagged an unexpected victory in the November 8 presidential elections against all odds, is controversial to say the least. He’s been called “tough,” “unorthodox,” and “the most brazenly misogynistic candidate in modern history.” A poll by US media has also found that Trump is the “least popular new president in at least a generation.” 
Yet, when the former TV reality star gets close to an open microphone or Wi-Fi connection, people intently follow and journalists take notes… and screen grabs. But between his Twitter tirades, intriguing interviews and stinging statements, a shift in the bold New Yorker’s rhetoric is being noticed.
The ceremonial construction and preparations on the US Capitol near completion on January 18, 2017 before the inauguration ceremony where US President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn into office in Washington, USA. /CFP Photo

The ceremonial construction and preparations on the US Capitol near completion on January 18, 2017 before the inauguration ceremony where US President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn into office in Washington, USA. /CFP Photo

Below is a compilation of Trump’s perspectives on some of the hotly-debated issues before and after the 2016 presidential elections.

China a currency manipulator

Before
Trump has been known for his tough stance on China, questioning its monetary policies, accusing it of devaluating its currency, and branding it a “currency manipulator.” Shortly after his victory, he said he would instruct the Department of the Treasury to label China as a currency manipulator on day one. 
Screen grab of Trump's Tweet on December 4, 2016 about China's RMB depreciation.

Screen grab of Trump's Tweet on December 4, 2016 about China's RMB depreciation.

After
On January 13, Trump told the Wall Street Journal that he will not label China a currency manipulator as soon as he takes office, noting that he will “talk to them first” before taking any action. “Certainly they are manipulators, but I’m not looking to do that,” he claimed.

The Great Wall of Mexico

Before
During his campaign, Trump reiterated time and again his plan of erecting a border-length wall between the US and Mexico, pledging that the Mexicans will pay for it. He argued last April that the US has the leverage because he would cut remittances of undocumented Mexicans in the US.
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto delivers a speech during a press conference at Los Pinos Presidential Residence in Mexico City, Mexico on January 04, 2017. /CFP Photo

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto delivers a speech during a press conference at Los Pinos Presidential Residence in Mexico City, Mexico on January 04, 2017. /CFP Photo

After
On January 6, he said that he is asking The US Congress to find ways to fund the project, while Mexico will be asked to reimburse the money. Trump denied his new statement is a broken promise, saying it was important “for speed” that the US pays first.
Last week, he reaffirmed again that “Mexico will pay for the wall.” “It will happen. Remember this, OK?” – However, without explaining how. 

Ban on Muslims entering the US

A Muslim woman holds a poster during a protest against Donald Trump on December 20, 2015 in New York. /CFP Photo

A Muslim woman holds a poster during a protest against Donald Trump on December 20, 2015 in New York. /CFP Photo

Before
Trump’s position on barring Muslim immigrants from entering the US started from “a complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on,” in December 2015, to only suspending immigration from countries with “a proven history of terrorism against the United States,” in June 2016. 
After
He said he will install a comprehensive Muslim registry or database system. Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s White House aide, said that the new administration would not pursue a ban on Muslims solely based on their religion.
Photo shows a dying Joshua Tree  in Joshua Tree National Park as drought affected California, on November 22, 2015. /CFP Photo

Photo shows a dying Joshua Tree  in Joshua Tree National Park as drought affected California, on November 22, 2015. /CFP Photo

Climate change

Before
As far back as November 2012, Trump has affirmed that global warming was a “hoax created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive.”
He has previously tweeted about not accepting the scientific evidence that climate change is real. On January 2015, he took to Twitter to say that global warming is needed because the weather is cold. “It’s record cold all over the country and world - where the hell is global warming, we need some fast!”
After
Trump however softened his tone on whether he would pull the US out of international efforts aimed at combating the phenomenon. Talking to reporters from the New York Times, he said that he is “looking at it very closely.” Eventually, he conceded in late November that there is “some connectivity” between human activity and climate change. 
Hillary Clinton is honored at a Children's Defense Fund event for her contributions and dedication to child advocacy at the Newseum in Washington, DC, November 16, 2016. /CFP Photo

Hillary Clinton is honored at a Children's Defense Fund event for her contributions and dedication to child advocacy at the Newseum in Washington, DC, November 16, 2016. /CFP Photo

Prosecution of Hillary Clinton

Before election
Trump branded his Democratic rival as “Crooked Hillary” and said he would want to put her behind bars during his pre-election rallies. Clinton’s use of a private email server while serving as secretary of state gave the then-presidential hopeful hefty material to attack.
After election
After the elections, Trump said in an interview with the New York Times that he “did not want to hurt the Clintons,” and that Hillary “went through a lot and suffered greatly in many different ways.” 
People hold rainbow flags as they wait for the start of the New York City Pride Parade in New York on June 28, 2015. /CFP Photo

People hold rainbow flags as they wait for the start of the New York City Pride Parade in New York on June 28, 2015. /CFP Photo

Gay marriage

Before
Trump told Fox News Channel in January 2016 that he would “strongly consider” appointing Supreme Court justices who would repeal the landmark ruling allowing same-sex marriage. 
After
He later said during an interview with CBS’ 60 minutes that he was “fine” with same-sex marriage. “It’s law,” he said, “It was settled in the Supreme Court….They’ve been settled, and I’m fine with that.”

Obamacare

Before
Barack Obama signs the Affordable Care Act, dubbed Obamacare, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, US, March 23, 2010. /CFP Photo 

Barack Obama signs the Affordable Care Act, dubbed Obamacare, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, US, March 23, 2010. /CFP Photo 

Trump’s promise to repeal Obamacare as soon as he takes office resonated well among Trump’s supporters while he campaigned for the White House.
After
A few days after the election, Trump appeared to have softened his views. In an interview with the WSJ, he said he was reconsidering his stance, noting he is open to leaving intact key parts of the 2010 healthcare bill.
However, Trump again reversed on his U-turn, and said in an interview last weekend with the Washington Post that he is nearing the completion of a plan to replace bill, but declined to give specifics. 

Waterboarding

Before
Trump previously said that he supports bringing back waterboarding, a torturous interrogation technique, during in an interview in February 2016 with ABC. “I would absolutely authorize something beyond waterboarding,” he said.
After
Trump said in late November that waterboarding might not be an effective tool. The twist seemed to take place after his meeting with James Mattis, a retired general and Trump’s choice for secretary of defense, who told Trump that he had never found abuse to be useful when dealing with detainees. He concluded by saying that “torture is not going to make the kind of a difference that a lot of people are thinking,” according to a report by the New York Times in November.
Donald Trump speaks during a press conference to launch his new book "Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again" at Trump Tower in New York, November 22, 2015. /CFP Photo

Donald Trump speaks during a press conference to launch his new book "Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again" at Trump Tower in New York, November 22, 2015. /CFP Photo

Abortion and TPP

Issues on which Trump has maintained his position include abortion and TPP. 
The president-to-be has claimed to be pro-life, posing a threat to women making decisions about their own bodies. 
Meanwhile, in a video outlining his policy plans for his first 100 days in office, he made clear that pulling back from the Trans-Pacific Partnership is on his day one’s agenda. He called the multilateral trade framework a “potential disaster for our country.” In January, a Trump transition policy adviser said that “TPP is dead. I cannot stress that more strongly.”
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