Can a set of ideas that fail to form an ideology or doctrine represent a change in the world order? Since his rise to the presidency of the United States in 2016, Donald Trump emerged as a controversial figure who baffled the establishment political and economic responsible for the decline of that nation, according to his vision.
His rise to power shocked the world. The first victory of the New York businessman shook public opinion, revealing that patriarchy, racism, xenophobia and discrimination continue to be great bastions that bring together a large part of society. He showman He would do it again in the 2024 elections, by beating the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris and achieving the majority in both Houses of Congress.
If Trump’s first victory forced a review of the factors behind his popular support, his second victory confirmed various theses about this movement that transcends national borders and has a global reach in the economy, geopolitics and also the culture of the West. At the end of the day, beyond elaborate explanations about the phenomenon of Trumpism, What there is is the hope of the American people that a safer and more prosperous country is possible, and that this aspiration is legitimate and just, even if it is above the rights of non-Anglo immigrants, the alarms about climate change, or a tariff war against economies like its Canadian and Mexican neighbors.
The speech he gave after his swearing-in on January 20, 2025, confirms relevant elements that support the Trumpism not only as a political phenomenon of American democracy, but as an emblematic cultural movement of our time.
America Firsthis now famous electoral slogan, represents the roots of popular sentiment that has been preserved since the last century, at least since the 1920s during the time of the Ku Klux Khan, which feels comfortable with economic protectionism and a isolationist nationalism.
Since Trump’s political rise, much has been written and theorized to explain his victory through democratic means. But his inauguration speech on January 20, 2025 is overwhelmingly clear in explaining the triumph of a character who managed to capture the desire for change in American society.
On January 20, a date that paradoxically coincided this year with the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, an essential voice on civil rights, the 47th American president gave a clear message against his enemies, and also regarding the objectives you intend to achieve.
Some substantial topics that were highlighted during his speech are declaring a national emergency on the southern border, invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 against foreign criminal networks, restoring the “Stay in Mexico” policy, ending the inflationary crisis , generate more oil and gas – that “liquid gold” -, save the US automobile industry, create an external revenue service based on the collection of tariffs, greater freedom of expression and even recover the Panama Canal.
Special mention deserves Trump’s recognition of only two genders, male and female, as well as the end to quotas or affirmative actions: “we will forge a color-blind society based on merit.”
It is early to talk about Trump’s legacies for his country and the world, but it does not seem to be so early to affirm that his second term confirms the strength of the Trumpism as a cultural movement that is rethinking the understanding of the political order in the years to come. He Trumpism He is here to stay beyond Donald Trump. There his first inheritance.
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Palmira Tapia has a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Oxford and a degree in Political Science and International Relations from the Center for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE).
Twitter: @palmiratapia
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