Many analysts point out that though the business magnate-turned-US President is gone, ‘Trumpism’ will remain at least for some time
Every world leader leaves behind a legacy. What kind of legacy has US President Donald Trump left? His successor Joe Biden has now inherited some bad and good policies, which he has to tackle. A Reuter’s report sums up his legacy thus, “Saying that he knew best what ailed America and often governing by executive order, President Donald Trump dismantled or disrupted multilateral pacts, overhauled tax and immigration systems and, with the help of Senate Republicans, reshaped the judiciary. Trump’s actions may be undone in many areas over time, but win or lose, his legacy will endure in the federal courts where his conservative lifetime appointees will influence every aspect of American life for decades.” The recent poll results have revealed how divisive the US has become. It is currently divided vertically on class, racial, economic, political, urban-rural and gender basis. Trump himself is alleged to be a divisive figure. President-elect Joe Biden has stressed his priority of uniting the country but he will have a huge challenge ahead.
The second is the Covid legacy. No doubt Trump did not create the pandemic but he could have handled it much better. Biden’s main issue during the campaign against him was how he ignored the outbreak, as a result of which the US has recorded the maximum number of cases in the world. Linked to the contagion is the shattered US economy. Former President Barack Obama left behind a thriving economy four years ago and even Trump was doing well in the first three years. Covid indeed shattered his dream of retaining his presidency. Had the elections been held last year or a year later, he might have returned to the White House. But today people are suffering from a sagging economy. Then there is the foreign policy, where he has left behind a mess. Though he did not start a war with any country, the US confronted North Korea, Iran and Venezuela. Israel’s relations with Arab States demonstrate unprecedented progress but Palestine has been ignored. His hard line on Iran led to an avoidable confrontation. Afghanistan, too, needed a better strategy.
The relationship with China deteriorated the most, raising fears of a new Cold War, especially after Trump called Covid a Chinese virus. He adopted two main strategies for tackling Beijing. The first was cultivating an alliance with India and the second was selling weapons to Taiwan to check the rise of China. India revitalised the Quad, invited Australia to a naval exercise with Japan and the US. Two other important foreign policy legacies were questioning the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and alienating European allies. Despite being a votary of democracy, he also indulged some authoritarian rulers.
Trump has left behind a diminished role for the US in multilateral institutions. He threatened the World Health Organisation by withdrawing the US’ contribution. He even threatened the United Nations that the US’ contribution would not come if the world body did not reform itself. He terminated important arms control agreements and the Paris Agreement on climate change. Thankfully Biden has already announced that the US would be rejoining the Paris climate accord and restore its primacy in these world bodies.
On trade-related issues, he played the hard-nosed businessman that he was and negotiated hard. He promised to shrink the trade deficit with other countries, particularly China, by introducing new taxes and other hurdles on imports. He challenged the multilateral alliances and the World Trade Organisation’s rules. In fact, within the first week of his taking over, Trump quit the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal negotiated by Obama. Then, the Trump Administration tightened immigration and reduced refugee admissions and access to asylum. He also made it much more difficult for immigrants from Muslim and African countries to enter the US. Now, Biden has announced a more relaxed immigration regime. Whether this is good for the US in the long run or not, only time will tell. Last but not the least, many analysts point out that though he is gone, “Trumpism” will remain at least for some time. After becoming the President in 2016, he dominated the Grand Old Party (GOP). He finished his rivals in the party and led it without challenge. The Republican establishment is gone but his base will still be there. After all, he managed to get half the country to vote for his party. Though he never delivered his key promises, the GOP base stayed with him. The New York Times points out, “Until a new generation of Republicans steps forward, Mr Trump could position himself as the de facto leader of the party, wielding an extraordinary database of information about his supporters that future candidates would love to rent or otherwise access.” What would Trump do now that he is defeated? He could return to his family business, set up a foundation, launch a new television network, go on a speaking tour, and write a memoir, which is what most of his predecessors have done. He could also run in the 2024 presidential elections but he is keeping his cards close to his chest.
(The writer is a senior journalist)
