Donald Trump - For the US or the World?

After the US election that took place last week, many people are worried about what the new Trump administration could mean for the rest of the world. The global superpower is capable of shaping the international markets and economies of other nations worldwide, which means that the responsibility to lead it should be left to someone adept enough to

take it on. Questions have arisen whether Trump will be able to govern the US with

rationality after his less than perfect debate performances and strong antagonistic stance on climate threats.

But what exactly does Trump’s reinstatement mean for India? According to the Atlantic Council, India will look to use the new president as an opportunity for increased trade, however, there may be some uncertainty when it comes to Trump’s priorities. There has been a relatively good relationship with the Modi government in India in the past and some hope that Trump’s anti-China stance might end up benefiting India.

In areas plagued by war like the Russo-Ukraine region, there is doubt as to which side the US will choose to provide their support. Ukraine, who are aware that the aid provided by the US is indispensable, are suspicious about whether Trump will choose to continue its provision, especially because of his well-known peace plan that was criticised by the Ukrainian media. Trump is known to have a more isolationist stance on foreign policy, meaning pulling back in areas where he cannot perceive clear US interests being served. 

Despite Trump being a controversial figure, who is at least internationally regarded as a less than ideal candidate, he was elected by the US citizens with a clear majority.  The question still remains, why not Harris? According to the BBC, the first major reason was the fact that she still carried some baggage from Joe Biden’s campaign. US voters could not get over Joe Biden’s poor performances and over two-thirds of the population said their country was on the wrong track. Also, many felt that Harris’ decision near the end of her campaign to slam Donald Trump and pro-Trump citizens was not the right decision.The focus seemed to be on bringing down Trump rather than policy stances. Voters already knew what they would get with Trump, however, because of her short campaign, not many were aware of her plans if she were to win the election and that was likely what tipped the scale in Trump's favour.

That is not to say that Donald Trump’s victory was solely luck based. The man was extremely strategic in the way he portrayed his image and who he pitched his campaign to. Trump was able to secure the votes of the majority of young males who voted as well as many women who wished to see change from the Democratic agenda. While Donald Trump may not be seen as perfect to the rest of the world, he is able to appeal to the citizens of the US by making financial and economic decisions that benefit them. Ironically, the one thing the Biden administration has managed to achieve in their 4 years has been a more stable economy - however, the Trump statements overshadowed the average voter’s understanding of the national economic indicators.

The issue with making single mindedly pro-US and sometimes irrational decisions is the fact that the rest of the world’s economy may suffer. The President of the United States of America is left with a large responsibility. A responsibility to do what is right for their own country, but the rest of the world as well. While Trump is far from the perfect candidate, let’s hope that he is able to make the right decisions and help both the US and other nations thrive.