Standing before former US presidents, Republican and Democrat alike, 47th US President Donald J Trump opened his inaugural speech: “The golden age of America begins right now.” His declaration metaphorically put to dust all his predecessors’ achievements.
“During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simply put America first,” Trump underlined. Had his predecessors put America second, then?
The first day of Trump’s second term has been nothing less than insurgent. He wants to bring about a “revolution of common sense” against “Washington elites” and “woke ideologies”. “For American citizens, Jan 20, 2025 is Liberation Day,” he proudly proclaimed, receiving a standing ovation in response.
‘America First’, reloaded
On his very first day in office, Trump has injected a phenomenon into the US presidential history hitherto unseen. That he would be erratic, transactional, and highly disruptive was known to all in the US and abroad. His first presidential term was a testimony to both, the rhetoric and the reality, of his ‘America First’ policy. But many would have given him the benefit of the doubt, harbouring the idea that his radical campaign promises may not turn into executive decisions after assuming office.
However, the 47th president has put all doubts to rest. With a sweeping stroke of his pen, he has signed an unprecedented number of executive orders, passing proclamations to overhaul American politics and foreign policy.
Armed with four years of experience inside the American Beltway and a team of hardcore loyalists, Trump is much more determined to execute the “MAGA” agenda in his second term.
An official statement released by the White House on 20 January includes some of the boldest executive moves Trump intends to push. It affirms that he is resolved to make real his campaign claim, “Promises made, and promises kept.”
Re-emphasised in upper case letters in the statement, headings like “DRAIN THE SWAMP” and “BRING BACK AMERICAN VALUES” solidify four years of Trump’s attacks on immigration, government bureaucracy, and diversity and inclusion policies.
Trump also announced a national emergency at the US southern border, rescinding Biden-era policies and reinstating heavily stringent measures on illegal border crossings. The US military has been tasked to aid border security officials to achieve the intended results.
In a move that will have a consequential impact on the lives of immigrants, including the growing Indian-American community, Trump aims to outlaw birthright citizenship—the policy that grants citizenship to anyone born in the US. This is sure to face intense legal challenges. More than 20 states and various civil rights groups have already taken legal steps to block this order.
Further, Trump has moved to establish a person’s sex as “either male or female”, requiring government agencies to use their “immutable” designation. He has also put an end to all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts, initiating a new curve in gender and race politics in the US. Moreover, he also issued presidential pardons to more than 1,500 people convicted of crimes related to the 6 January 2021 Capitol riots.
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Trump Turbulence
If Trump’s day 1 signifies the things to come in the next four years, Americans and non-Americans alike need to brace for more drastic changes. From the US social fabric to how Washington engages the rest of the world—on trade, security, and climate change—everything is headed for the ‘Trump Turbulence’.
What is the message behind calling for the Panama Canal to be handed over to the US, renaming the Gulf of Mexico, seeking to acquire Greenland, or outlandishly calling for Canada to be America’s 51st state? Trump is not only invoking the infamous 19th-century ‘Monroe Doctrine’, but also setting foot on the glassy ice of the US’ new power competition with China.
At least in the case of the Panama Canal, Trump has categorically called out China’s influence in America’s backyard. “China is operating the Panama Canal and we didn’t give it to China, we gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back,” he said.
Trump’s newly confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio seconded this during his confirmation hearing. “Chinese companies control port facilities at both ends of the canal … that could be used as a chokepoint to impede commerce in a moment of conflict,” he said.
On climate change and green transition, multilateral bodies and partners are in for a bumpy road over financial commitments and technology transfer. True to his campaign slogan of “drill, baby, drill,” Trump aims to grow fossil fuel production in the US and make it a dominant energy exporter. He has yet again withdrawn the US from the multilateral Paris Agreement. He will also make a slew of domestic legislation adjustments to undo Biden-era initiatives on mitigating climate change, calling them “energy extremism”.
Trump has threatened wide-ranging tariffs on allies, partners, and adversaries, including on bordering states like Canada and Mexico. His love for tariff reciprocity will perhaps define new terms of the US’ trade engagement with the world.
Trump also has the task of aligning stricter national security concerns and economic imperatives vis-a-vis China, as mega American tech companies continue to have huge stakes in the country, including Elon Musk’s Tesla. Interestingly, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was present at Trump’s inauguration, following which Trump announced a 75-day pause on banning TikTok in the US.
During a press conference at the Oval Office, Trump reiterated his move to impose a 100 per cent tariff on BRICS nations if they seriously consider de-dollarisation. Through executive orders, he has already withdrawn the US from the World Health Organization (WHO) and paused the disbursement of US foreign development assistance for 90 days.
Many of his executive orders will still face legislative challenges in the US Congress, particularly from lawmakers belonging to the Democratic Party and legal challenges by liberal organisations. However, as a new era of retribution politics descends on the US, its ramifications for a post-Trump era will be significant.
Despite the interregnum of Biden’s presidency, the Trump factor has dominated the US political, economic, and social scene since 2016, making him one of the most influential American presidents. His imprint on the US government’s contract with Americans, and with the rest of the world, remains immense—regardless of the consequences hereon.
Monish Tourangbam is Director at the Kalinga Institute of Indo-Pacific Studies (KIIPS), India. Views are personal.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)