Trump 2.0 will echo themes from first term, but with big changes

In light of Donald Trump 's re-election as the 47th President of the United States, the international community is gearing up to adapt to potential shifts resulting from Washington's recalibrations. The second Trump presidency will likely echo themes from his previous term but with significant changes. While his first administration provides a reference point for assessing likely policies and their effects on the US, its allies, and global partners, Trump's return to the White House could introduce new dynamics due to other internal and external factors which have cropped up since he left office. Internally, Trump has already indicated his administration will differ markedly from his prior one. Many key figures from his first term, such as John Kelly and John Bolton , have either distanced themselves from him or openly opposed his leadership, suggesting a fresh team with potentially distinct policy goals. This shift could result in notable changes across domestic and foreign policy fronts. The entry of people like Elon Musk , Vivek Ramaswamy and Robert F. Kennedy Junior could mean very different policy priorities for the US in fields such as space, technology, innovation, medical and health. Externally, the global landscape has changed drastically since Trump left office in 2021. The world now faces two major conflicts: the war in Ukraine and the escalating crisis in West. Meanwhile, China's economy, though experiencing slowdowns, has expanded in size and influence, and the US national debt has surged to unprecedented levels of $35 trillion. Significantly, the second Trump administration may operate with a rare bipartisan consensus against engaging in new military conflicts. Unlike the Biden administration, which was often divided on complex issues like Ukraine and Israel, Trump is expected to adopt a more unilateral approach, guided by his established views rather than shifting international pressures. His approach will be one guided by bare-bone interests rather than any self proclaimed value. As such, bringing the ongoing wars to a close would be more important than whether democracy is being safeguarded abroad. However, it was interesting to see Trump talk about saving American democracy in his victory speech, even as the ballots were being counted. His promise certainly compliments the recent survey that 76% of Americans consider the democracy under threat.