Trump, who was once an intruder, returns to the White House with greater authority

Donald Trump promised to continue to be a powerful figure in American politics the day before he stepped down from the White House in 2021. “The movement we started is only just beginning,” he stated in a video that told his farewell.

It seems like a prophesy now, but it could have seemed like wishful thinking back then.

After being rejected by his fellow Republicans in his own government and barred from social media, Trump departed office a dejected and lonely man. After his followers attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, Congress was getting ready to try him again for impeachment.

On Monday, the 78-year-old Trump will take office again with greater authority than before. As he pursues an agenda that is already upending Washington and causing unrest throughout the world, he faces fewer restrictions.

It is conceivable that the erstwhile real estate mogul, who was elected to the White House as his first elected position, is now the most iconic political figure of the early 21st century.

“He doesn’t appear to have been turned down. Julian Zelizer, a history professor at Princeton University, observed, “It appears that his interpretation of Republican politics is as mainstream as it gets.”

Trump is supported by a resounding electoral triumph, having won both the Electoral College and the popular vote, unlike when his first term began in 2017.

The bare-knuckled followers ready to subdue Washington have replaced the aides who previously attempted to restrain his more violent tendencies. His Republican supporters are keen to get his initiatives through Congress after skeptics were forced into retirement. Trump has already been given broad discretion to do as he pleases by a favorable Supreme Court, which is composed of one-third Trump appointees.

Previously distant Silicon Valley titans are now vying for his favor. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and the richest man in the world, has offered to assist Trump in reorganizing the government, while Jeff Bezos, the creator of Amazon, and Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, will be featured prominently at his inauguration.

While traditional media sources face declining audiences, Trump, a former reality TV star, can also rely on a network of empathetic influencers and podcasters to spread his message. 54 million people have seen his rambling October conversation with podcaster Joe Rogan on YouTube, which is close to the 67 million who watched his debate with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris on television.

With fewer migrant arrests in December than when he left office, Trump takes over a robust economy and a peaceful southern border.

However, he has stated that he intends to deport millions of illegal immigrants and impose high tariffs on trade partners, actions that might rekindle inflation and put pressure on stock prices, which Trump regularly monitors.

The bond market, where investors would become alarmed if the $36 trillion national debt rises sharply or if Congress finds it difficult to lift the borrowing cap, is one potential check on his aspirations.

Additionally, if he fails to fulfill his pledge to prolong his 2017 tax cuts and reduce government spending, markets may respond negatively.

A FLORIDA MAN

Trump’s fortunes were at a low point in November 2022 when he announced his third straight presidential run from his Florida resort. He was the subject of several criminal and civil investigations, and many of his favorite congressional candidates had lost the midterm elections. Republicans wanting to put the Trump years behind them were becoming enthusiastic about rivals like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The New York Post reported, “Florida Man Makes Announcement,” in a contemptuous manner about Trump.

However, once Trump was indicted in March 2023 for concealing a hush money payment to a porn actress, Republican supporters turned to him, funds flooded in, and he comfortably won the party’s nomination. He also benefited from broader developments, as people became disenchanted with Democratic President Joe Biden’s handling of illegal immigration and skyrocketing costs. After a dismal debate performance, Biden withdrew his reelection candidacy in July 2024, giving Harris little time to convince supporters of her own position.

Trump also took advantage of his bad luck by claiming that his legal troubles were the result of political persecution and putting up a last-ditch defense that eventually led federal prosecutors to dismiss two cases against him, including one for election meddling. 

One of the most iconic pictures of the year was taken in July when Trump lifted his fist and yelled, “Fight! Fight! Fight!” after being lightly wounded by a gunshot from a would-be assassin.

Trump gained support from typical Democratic groups like youth and Hispanics after winning in November.

Democrats warned that a candidate who refused to accept his 2020 loss presented a persistent threat to democracy, but voters dismissed his felony convictions.

In an attempt to intimidate his political rivals, Trump has threatened to fire federal employees and recruit the Justice Department. He has hinted that he may decline to utilize funds that Congress has allocated, which might result in a constitutional conflict.

His pursuit of territorial expansion, which includes acquiring Greenland from Denmark and claiming ownership of the Panama Canal, has increased the likelihood that his second term as president will be just as turbulent as his first.

However, Trump has already changed Washington before he even takes the oath of office on Monday. His more combative stance against China and his doubts about free trade deals are now shared by both Democrats and Republicans. Republican budget proposals no longer include proposed changes to well-liked health and retirement programs. Biden has attempted to lessen the United States’ dependency on semiconductors produced elsewhere and has maintained several of Trump’s tariffs.

Trump used to be an outsider in American politics, but now he defines it.
Matthew Continetti, a fellow at the conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute, stated, “It’s evident that we’ve been in the Trump era since 2015.” “It’s not over yet.”