Trump's Return to the White House

Trump's Return to the White House:

MAGA Becomes Reality

By Jonathan Fon, a freelance journalist and column writer

Trump re-enters the White House,

Political landscape will see the Republicans in control

After November 5, 2024, the U.S. presidential election has settled, and life goes on as usual, but the political landscape has shifted. Former President Trump, having lost the 46th presidential election, never gave up. He continued to push forward and entered the 47th election, ultimately winning and thus becoming the 47th president of the United States. This marks the political climate of the United States as we approach the end of 2024.

My political spectrum sees blue in Canada and red in the United States. Naturally, I favor the Republican Party taking the White House. For the next four years, a Republican president will lead the U.S. and potentially steer the global political scene. This is undoubtedly a significant shift, albeit with a sense of irony. However, why Trump? To this day, I remain uncertain about his political style. He lacks the usual poise and decorum of a traditional politician and claims friendship with controversial world leaders. Despite this, he was selected through a legitimate process by the Republican Party, and the American people appreciate his straightforward style and chose him. Thus, this is the outcome of a fair process. Trump now joins Grover Cleveland, who won a non-consecutive term, as the second president in U.S. history to return to the White House after a hiatus.

Around the presidential election, both the Senate's 100 seats and the House's 435 seats held elections for about a third of their members. The results showed the Republicans winning more seats than that of the Democratics in both houses of Congress. This is the significant political shift I'm referring to. A Republican president, a Republican-controlled House, and a Republican-controlled Senate—this is the new political landscape of the United States, at least for Trump’s first two years in office. Additionally, there is another element bolstering this shift.

During Trump's previous term, vacancies arose in the Supreme Court, and as president, he had the authority to nominate candidates to Congress for appointment. Supreme Court justices serve for life, barring voluntary resignation or death. During Trump’s term, he appointed three justices, giving the Supreme Court a conservative majority.

This makes a political collage where checks and balances may now align with conservative values. For the first two years of Trump’s term, American politics will largely be under control of the Republican Party. (It’s important to clarify that one-party rule here should not be equated with authoritarianism.) MAGA (Make America Great Again) thus appears inevitable, and the global landscape may see a period of turbulence followed by peace and stableness. That will echo his grateful expression in his victory speech: "God spared my life for a reason."

The Alliance of Trump and "Superman" Musk: A New Geopolitical Twist Possible

This U.S. election has two major highlights. The first is the Republican control over both Congress and the presidency, backed by a judiciary that now leans conservative. The second is Trump’s alliance with Elon Musk.

Throughout this election, Trump faced countless challenges, including assassination attempts. However, Musk joining his campaign was perhaps the most attention-grabbing. Musk’s strategic genius was evident as he spent a million dollars daily on a giveaway frenzy, encouraging voter turnout while positioning himself firmly in Trump’s corner. Although they differ in age and fields of influence, the two men operate with similar unpredictability, a shared rogue energy that could make them powerful allies.

Musk’s achievements are remarkable—founding companies that launch spacecraft, rivaling NASA’s technology, acquiring and rebranding Twitter as X, and creating the Tesla brand. He operates with an almost supernatural level of innovation, moving seamlessly across borders and gaining access to some of the world’s most secure places, from the Great Hall of the People to the Kremlin. But what is Musk’s political stance? With Musk aiding Trump, there’s little doubt that his influence will impact Trump’s decisions as president.

Advice to President Trump: Lead Steadily and Embrace Teamwork

With Trump re-entering the White House, I hope he adopts a new leadership style, one that guides the U.S. and influences the world. Trump’s courage in taking on global adversaries and initiating the trade war should be commended. His boldness set the stage for today’s push toward alliances that uphold universal values and the formation of democratic supply chains. This began during his earlier presidency. But Trump’s leadership style has often resembled a lone cowboy, lacking the systematic, collaborative approach that political governance requires. I urge Trump to remember his gratitude and lean on teamwork—this will not only strengthen his administration but also alleviate personal burdens.

Finally, I will touch on how Trump might approach U.S.-China relations. While the U.S. recently issued a restrained diplomatic statement for China’s National Day, China promptly congratulated Trump on his election, acknowledging that "cooperation benefits both, while conflict harms both." Will the U.S. and China be able to cooperate? It’s doubtful. America sees through China’s attempts to challenge its global standing and undermine the US dollar. Any cooperation appears unlikely. However, if Trump pivots from a lone cowboy approach to building a global coalition against China, the U.S.-China relationship could evolve from a bilateral issue to a more intricate international power struggle.

November 8, 2024, Toronto, Canada