The world media is actively discussing the return of Donald Trump to the presidential chair and what consequences it will have for the United States and the international community. His second term, which starts this Monday after his inauguration, promises to be a turning point for many areas of politics, economics and diplomacy. The Republican majority in Congress adds new nuances to the discussions: Trump now has more tools to implement his initiatives, which were previously blocked by the Democratic opposition.
European publications emphasize the possible deepening of differences between the US and the EU, because Trump is known for his criticism of international alliances. At the same time, the Asian media focus on how this will affect the competition between the US and China. American newsrooms, including The New York Times and Fox News, share polar forecasts: from a new wave of economic growth to increasing domestic tensions. Expectations, doubts, hopes — all these aspects shape the global discussion of the world media about the new term of Donald Trump.
The Guardian – Great Britain. Elon Musk and his inner circle will gain real power during Trump’s second term, London’s The Guardian warns:
“Rarely has the connection between politics and wealth been so blatant and shameless as with Mr. Trump. A man who verbally opposes the elites has gathered 13 billionaires in his cabinet.
… Wealth allows its owners to shape reality. The railways, which enriched the tycoons of the 19th century, at that time literally set the pace at which the entire country moved. Today, the “technological-industrial complex” works in an even narrower paradigm.
… Namely, he determines what the voters will see. In the end, the question may become a rub: who should rule the country – the American people or the new aristocracy?”.
Le Monde – France. The USA is returning to the tradition of so-called American exceptionalism, writes historian Ludovic Tournais in the pages of the Parisian Le Monde:
“The interests of the United States are now very different from those of Europe, both geopolitically and economically – it is enough to mention the Inflation Reduction Act from the Biden administration – as well as environmental issues. The economic and cultural model of the United States, which Trump has no intention of questioning, rests on on the promise of eternal prosperity based on inexhaustible minerals.
Europeans, who are used to seeing the US as an ally, should think about revising their position. Yes, there is no dispute, this is a difficult question, it can make your head spin. And yet – the new president forces us to ask ourselves this question.”
Estonian National Broadcasting (ERR Online) – Естония. In his article for the ERR Online portal, the director of the International Center for Defense and Security, Christy Raik, analyzes the global situation in this area:
“The old liberal and rules-based world order has broken down, and Trump seems completely unwilling to restore it. Instead, we are facing troubled times of power struggles between great powers, in which force, not right, reigns supreme. Old concepts—such as spheres of influence— are back in fashion.
There is a struggle for who will control strategically important territories, minerals and transport arteries. Trump’s main opponent in this struggle is China, and as far as relations with Russia are concerned, it is also difficult to consider anything other than confrontation on the horizon.”
wPolityce.pl – Poland. The course conducted by Trump is aimed primarily at the observance of interests and the demonstration of strength, but values as such are of little concern to him – the portal wPolityce.pl thinks:
“A lot can be said about Trump’s policy: it is in a sense harsh and brutal, it aims to create a new reality and relies on hard power. In addition, it is risky, because such an approach may not bring the expected effect.
All this is true, but still it cannot be said that this policy is “crazy”, chaotic – or poorly thought out. Those who claim this are unable to recognize the new reality. Now we are experiencing the return of public policy in its classical sense, when it is primarily about interests and power – and to a much lesser extent about values.”
TVnet – Latvia. The Riga portal Tvnet comments on the recently published report of special prosecutor Jack Smith, in which he claims that if Trump had been convicted on charges of illegal interference in the 2020 presidential election, he would not have won the November election:
“How long will the democratic system in the United States tolerate such a framework, in which the president of the country is effectively protected from any legal responsibility for his actions – even when they threaten the electoral process?
… Will it not happen that such impunity will create a dangerous precedent that future heads of states and governments will be able to take advantage of? After all, we are talking not only about Trump, but also about the ability of the United States to protect its democracy, as well as about the conviction that no one has the right to stand above the law.”
De Standaard – Belgium. From next week, our usual notions of morality will again be in serious danger, warns the Brussels-based De Standaard:
“In Europe, among the far-right and some businessmen, there is also a growing fascination with a paradigm shift a la Trump, accompanied by statements in the spirit that, they say, it is time for real politics. And those who object to this are guided only by moral arrogance that has outlived itself , and, they say, Europe can no longer afford it and it only weakens us. The truth is just the opposite.
Those values that Trump will destroy from next Monday are the basis of our strength and power. It’s time for resistance.”
