Carnage to Good Morning: How to prepare for Trump’s shock and awe

When he spoke at his inauguration in 2017, Trump painted the United States in dark colors and thought of “American carnage”; this time he is absolutely convinced of what he wants to do at home and abroad: restore America’s glory. With more information and fewer obstacles than the first time, Trump is sure to make a big move in no time. Expect him to promise “it’s coming to America” ​​again.

Trump is said to be ready with nearly 100 “executive orders” (like Indian government regulations) to be issued in the first few days of his presidency to usher in a period of shock and awe in the White House. He plans to sign some of them on the first day.

Unlike the 2016 election, Trump won the popular vote in 2024 and led his party to majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The fact that he has also faced great adversity in the face of a long political smear campaign and the Democratic Party’s legal battles has given him a rare opportunity in America, at least for now.

With the Joe Biden administration and the Democratic Party in disarray in Washington since the November election, Trump has held court at his Mar-a-Lago, Florida residence for the past few weeks. America’s rich and powerful have been stumbling to kiss Trump’s ring.

During the break, many people around the world will be attending Trump’s inauguration this time. Among them are the vice president of China; the presidents of Argentina and El Salvador; the prime minister of Italy, and the foreign ministers of the Quad security forum, including Subrahmanyam Jaishankar of India.

While some view his foreign policy rollout in the past few weeks—from Gaza to Greenland—as a political blunder, others see it as producing results. The cease-fire in Gaza, which began today, is said to be due in part to Trump’s threat that “all hell will break loose in the Middle East” if there is no deal to free the hostages. If his provocative claim to Greenland was widely dismissed as a myth of imperialism, Greenlanders have shown their readiness to discuss a new relationship with Trump’s Washington.

Delhi and other capitals of the world will watch Trump’s grand visit to five different places in the next few days.

One: Action on immigration has been central to Trump’s 2024 campaign. Trump is expected to start a program to deport illegal immigrants and gangs. It will not be easy to fulfill his promise to launch the largest deportation in American history. This is a major undertaking and is likely to face several legal and operational hurdles; but he could start by hiding in some fruit hanging on the ground to show a political purpose.

Two: Trump has repeatedly emphasized his intention to impose a variety of tariffs on US exports – some worldwide and others targeted at specific countries such as China. Trump and many of his advisers see tariffs as a tool to produce major changes in behavior in other states. The objectives include reducing the trade deficit and promoting domestic production. And he wants to use the tax rate to force alliance partners in Europe and Asia to increase defense spending and make other concessions. Skeptics, however, fear that Trump will trigger costly trade wars.

Three: Dismantling the green agenda of the Biden administration which includes the reversal of several executive orders issued in the past few days regarding limiting the development of energy resources. Trump believes that revitalizing the US energy sector—including hydrocarbons and nuclear—is essential to his plan to boost economic growth and create more jobs. While liberals oppose this, the working class and labor unions fully support Trump’s plans to restart the energy and mining sectors.

Four: To end the creation of an administrative state. Trump is expected to move quickly to shrink the US government on three levels—spending, headcount, and regulations. While the first two may take time, it will be much easier to act quickly to reduce regulations. Silicon Valley wants government to get out of the way to advance innovation and restore American leadership in technology. Right-wing culture warriors want Trump to start fighting the ‘resurrected virus’ that has infected society in the past few years.

Five: Silence is power. Trump makes a strong point of rejecting the “world” of the traditional foreign policy establishment that he believes has pushed America to spill blood and treasure around the world. That doesn’t mean Trump wants America to retreat from the world. His focus is on restoring the American military’s deterrence against the enemy. At the same time, Trump is open to negotiating a political accommodation with Russia, China, Iran and North Korea on terms that will expand America’s sphere of influence. This is not a combination that India and the world are unfamiliar with but they will have to find ways to control the effects of the revolution in Trump’s America.