On January 20, Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the President of the United States, succeeding Democratic incumbent Joe Biden after a fiercely contested election against Kamala Harris. Despite their political differences, Biden and Harris ensured a smooth transition, with Harris overseeing the certification of Trump’s victory as Senate President.
However, whether Trump truly grasped the significance of this moment remains questionable. Back in 2021, he boycotted Biden’s inauguration, claiming electoral fraud. He had even incited an insurrection, with his supporters storming the Capitol and calling for the hanging of his then-Vice President, Mike Pence. The irony of such events occurring in the so-called bastion of democracy is striking.
Now back in office, Trump wasted no time making sweeping changes. On his first day, he signed an unprecedented number of executive orders, bypassing Congress to implement his hardline agenda. These orders halted foreign aid, escalated mass deportations, dismissed federal employees en masse, and enlisted Elon Musk to streamline government bureaucracy. He revoked birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants and legally recognized only two genders—male and female. The U.S. also withdrew from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNESCO, and the Climate Change Convention, though it has not yet exited NATO or the United Nations.
Trump’s foreign policy has been equally aggressive. He has taken a hostile stance toward Canada and Mexico, even unilaterally renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” Some deported immigrants have reportedly been returned to their home countries in chains, prompting diplomatic protests. Yet, Trump remains undeterred, threatening economic penalties against nations that refuse to accept their repatriated citizens. These policies, though controversial, resonate with his Republican base and many white Americans who fear demographic shifts due to immigration.
Despite his sweeping executive actions, Trump’s more ambitious policies—such as tax cuts for the wealthy, healthcare reforms, and military restructuring—will require congressional approval. While Republicans hold a majority, they may still act as a check on his most extreme proposals. His administration has already stirred controversy, particularly with his pick for the U.N. ambassadorship, who denies the existence of Palestinians, and his ambassador to Israel, who insists that the West Bank belongs solely to Israelis. These stances threaten to inflame tensions in the volatile Middle East.
Trump himself has made inflammatory statements, including suggesting that Gaza may need to be “cleared” of Palestinians—remarks that coincided with Holocaust Remembrance events. Meanwhile, his policy advisor Elon Musk has openly associated with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, even making Nazi salutes and urging Germans to shed their historical guilt.
The contradictions of Trump’s presidency raise deep concerns. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders has warned that American democracy is being hijacked by oligarchs, citing Musk’s outsized financial influence in Trump’s campaign. There are fears that Musk, rather than Trump, may become the real power behind the presidency.
As Trump’s policies take shape, global tensions are likely to escalate. His demand that NATO allies allocate 5% of their budgets to defense is unlikely to be met by countries like Germany and France, raising questions about the U.S.’s commitment to the alliance. Speculation abounds: Will Trump withdraw from NATO altogether? Will he attempt to annex Greenland from Denmark? Will he militarily intervene in Panama to seize the canal?
His confrontational approach extends beyond allies. Trump’s threats of steep tariffs on China and the EU ignore the complexities of global trade. While America remains an economic powerhouse, it is deeply intertwined with China, which produces everything from consumer goods to high-tech components vital to Silicon Valley. Any drastic economic decoupling would have dire consequences for both nations.
For developing countries, including those in Africa, Trump’s presidency could mean economic marginalization. Many have turned to the BRICS alliance as a counterbalance to U.S. dollar hegemony. With vast natural resources and growing markets, these nations are not without leverage. If Trump alienates them, he risks eroding the goodwill that previous American administrations painstakingly built.
As the world watches, one thing is clear: Trump’s return signals a new era of uncertainty, both for America and the global order.