Two months since Trump’s inauguration on January 20 have passed, and the world has already changed radically. The deeds and statements of Trump are at the centre of all international affairs.
At the same time, the 47th President of the United States does not go one day without criticising the previous administration: Biden left the country with a broken economy, he is the worst president in US history and so forth. Trump, though, is constantly praising himself. During a speech to Congress at the beginning of March, he stated that more had been achieved in 43 days than in the four ears of the previous administration.
With the help of billionaire Elon Musk, who is heading the new Department of Government Efficiency, Trump is undertaking a serious reshuffle of the state apparatus, laying off employees of departments he claims are not just useless, but also harmful. This has already led to a reduction of tens of millions of dollars’ worth of budget allocations. Also, many state expenses are being shown to be a waste, for example the fact that millions of people have been found to be receiving social security insurance post-mortem.
A revolution of common sense
Trump has not just opposed the Democratic Party’s ‘policy of diversity’, which was fighting for homosexual marriage and transgenders, but has also clearly said that there are only two sexes, male and female. At the end of March, Trump signed an executive order, dismantling the Ministry of Education. The head of the White House wants states to determine matters of education without federal funds. Trump stated that educational establishments (colleges, schools, universities) allowing illegal, unsanctioned protests will be deprived of funding. The annual budget of the Ministry of Education if $79 mn.
Trump is saying that he is spearheading a revolution of common sense. Considering the experience gained from his first presidency, he is trying to put in place serious transformations in the US economy, culture and even art as quickly as possible.
The US’ debt has surpassed $36.6 trn and the budget deficit is almost $2 trn (this explains the desire to cut state expenses and unnecessary spending).
Some days ago, Trump signed an executive order (‘Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History’) on eliminating anti-American ideology, promising to remove ‘dividing ideas’ from museums, educational and research centres.
Trump does not tire to repeat that his goal is ‘the great return of American manufacturing, i.e. the rebirth of factories and plants throughout the country. In 1974, the US manufacturing industry employed 25% of the population; today that figure is around 8%.
Trump amazed the world with his foreign policy innovations. Unlike the Biden administration, that considered Russia and enemy, the 47th US President decided to pursue a course of normalising diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation. It seems he really does want to put an end to the war in Ukraine.
Trump is doing his most to level the US trade balance, first and foremost by minimising the deficit (from here come his constant introducing new tariffs on foreign goods). At the same time, Trump and his surroundings view Western European countries as leeches, as, according to him, they do not pay for the fact that the US guarantees their security. In an interview to ‘Newsmax’ on March 26, 2025, he said that “the European Union has turned out to be worse than its enemies because for 45 years they robbed the country while Washington was soft and weak”.
A new wave of condemning Trump in the Democratic media
Trump has announced a number of controversial initiatives, including on seizing Greenland and the Panama Canal, as well as making Canada the 51st US state. His dynamism and assertiveness suggest that he may well be able to reach partial, if not full, success in these matters.
Trump’s approach to the Middle East is more complex. His project for resettling 2 million Palestinian from Gaza is being blocked by the plan of 22 Arab countries, according to which the enclave should be reconstructed following the cessation of the Israeli attack and power handed to Palestinian governing bodies. Furthermore, the US support for Israel’s belligerent vector, which is pushing on militarily not only in Gaza, but in Libya and Syria as well, could have serious consequences for Tel Aviv, as it is leading to a schism in Israeli society.
According to all polls, most Americans support Trump’s line. Nevertheless, his opponents have notably upped their harsh criticism of all his actions, both in terms of domestic and foreign policy.
Elon Musk, considered by the Democrats to be Trump’s right hand, is facing the fiercest criticism, as ‘nobody chose him’, ‘he does not understand the purpose of the government’ and so forth. It is noteworthy that multiple cases of Tesla cars, produced by Musk’s company, being set on fire have been documented.
The publication of all materials related to the assassination of the 35th US President John F. Kennedy caused a new wave of condemnation of Trump in the Democratic media. All materials indicate that the assassination of Kennedy was the work of a loner, but there is still a sentiment in America that it was a CIA conspiracy (published archives show that this agency followed a lot of figures).
The US administration is also publishing FBI materials where Trump is accused of being an agent of Moscow, which helped him in the election campaign.
The following testifies to the atmosphere in the United States: Trump appointed K. Patel, FBI Director. In accordance with established tradition, he has the right to protection from his department, but Patel hired personal protection for himself from outside the Bureau.
Several provincial courts have already issued orders suspending some of Trump’s actions, in particular sending illegal migrants to other countries by plane.
With Trump’s return to the presidency, the old American order has suffered a crushing blow, but this does not mean that supporters of this order have disappeared or given up the fight.
Trump’s revolutionary actions are increasingly disliked by his opponents, both at home and abroad. It is noteworthy that some Russian political scientists compare the changes taking place in the United States with Gorbachev’s perestroika, which began in 1985. Most of the goals were defined, but the results did not always correlate with the objectives.
Every new day of the Trump presidency shows that the American divide is being felt more and more.
Vladimir Mashin, political observer, Candidate of Historical Sciences
