In Donald Trump’s strategic chess, the pawns reflect the issues that, although they do not appear as fundamental priorities on his agenda, are essential to maintain the support of his electoral base.
Unlike other pieces that embody large-scale geopolitical challenges, these minor domestic issues are part of a framework that supports the MAGA (make America great again) narrative and preserves what it defines as the essence of the nation. The peons represent traditional energy, the defense of religious freedom, support for the right to bear arms and the fight against what is called the “cultural awakening” in educational and business institutions. Likewise, the scope of these pieces extends to links with countries such as Venezuela and Cuba, used in their speech to ensure the support of specific sectors of the Latino electorate.
The emphasis on energy from coal and oil not only demonstrates the ideological roots that Trump maintains towards energy self-sufficiency, but also speaks of a symbolic commitment to workers in the sector. Presenting the recovery of coal mining and the intensive exploitation of hydrocarbons as an act of national demand reinforces the image of a president who fights for North American jobs in a globalized environment. These movements, however moderate in practice, constitute a powerful message to rural areas and states traditionally inclined towards fossil fuels, creating a sense of belonging that strengthens their electoral base. Thus, the energy pawn serves the dual purpose of providing narratives of economic strength and feeding the perception of an administration ready to wage battles against environmental policies that, from its perspective, hinder growth.
Religious freedom figures as another fundamental pawn in Trump’s strategy, since it allows him to maintain the support of evangelical communities and other groups that consider their convictions threatened. At the same time, his insistence on the right to bear arms translates into an almost identity symbol for broad conservative sectors, who see in it the safeguarding of individual freedoms enshrined in the Constitution. Although these issues lack the global resonance of conflicts with China or border security, their relevance lies in the mobilization of voters who share the conservative values promoted by Trump.
The fight against the so-called “cultural awakening” constitutes another tactic of low priority at the international level, but of high impact for the internal audience. By denouncing the proliferation of discourses about diversity, inclusion and social justice in schools and companies, Trump reinforces the idea that there is a progressive elite that seeks to impose a vision contrary to the traditional values of the nation. For its base, this message operates as a catalyst that generates cohesion and reaffirms the need for leadership that presumably defends the silent majority against trends that, in their opinion, could destabilize national identity.
In the field of foreign policy, pawns take shape in the constant reference to countries like Venezuela and Cuba, particularly at electoral times. Through a tough speech against socialism and authoritarianism, Trump seeks to connect with exiled Latino communities or with descendants of migrants who have suffered repressive regimes. This resource reinforces the idea that only an administration committed to change in these countries manages to speak in the name of freedom and human rights, without neglecting the real objective: capturing key votes in regions like Florida. Thus, humanitarian motivations and a political calculation aimed at consolidating crucial support in the Electoral College for post-2025 scenarios are intertwined.
Despite their relative place on the priority board, these issues play an indispensable role in supporting Trump’s narrative, which is built on the promise of defending traditional values and ensuring that the voice of the common citizen prevails over the political and cultural elites. As pawns, they may seem expendable in the face of greater challenges such as disputes with rival powers or struggles for global influence, but in practice they consolidate the strategy that gives meaning to the “America First” project. Whether on issues of energy and civil liberties or in the rhetorical use of external situations, these small pieces create and reinforce emotional bonds with the electorate, ensuring that the game moves in the direction that Trump intends to lead.
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