Most candidates are running on a platform of directing the taxes citizens pay towards services the citizens want. It's easy, and dishonest, to deride these as "free things" if you don't want them. Even the tax cut tooth fairy is supposed to be deficit neutral due to "dynamic accounting" gimmickry. The difficult lift is to discern what promises are based on flimflam and which are based on honest accounting and reasonable, time-tested assumptions.
I have more faith in modern politics that one man can veto an entire cabinet of elected officials on what to spend. Whether or not one man can influence them or ask them to keep spending, I have no doubts. But... how many elected lifetime professional politicians sign off on budgets + spending? I am going to guess it is more than "one man".