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Opinion | Trump’s America reveals inconvenient truths about a world in turmoil
As countries respond to global crises and challenges to multilateralism, a new era has dawned that cannot be understood using old precepts
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When Donald Trump was elected in 2016, some were shocked that a demagogue could win the US presidency. When he was defeated by Joe Biden in 2020, some establishment elites hoped a “normal” presidency would return.
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However, Trump’s electoral comeback signals he is not an accident or aberration in American politics. The New York Times considers him a transformational force reshaping the US in his image. Conversely, people and demographics can also shape leaders.
Many Americans echo his conspiracy theory that the “deep state” and competing world powers – mainly China – are to blame for their nation’s decline. His “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) zeal appeals to Americans across diverse ethnicities.
Countries around the world wonder whether they will see more of his “America First” approach which, during his first term, disrupted international cooperation, challenging long-standing commitments to multilateralism and upsetting relations with Europe and Asia.
His threats of high tariffs fuel fears of an escalated trade war that will drag down global economic growth. Both US allies and adversaries are bracing for geopolitical tensions to worsen, especially the US-China conflict.
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While Trump’s out-of-step craziness could well camouflage his confront-and-negotiate style of politics, foreign policy is often an extension of domestic politics. The real issue for concern is what’s happening in Trump’s America.
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