Donald Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again” was a populist way of reclaiming and extolling patriotic pride. A sentence used to appeal directly to voters’ emotions and to move any possible debate away from rationality and calm.
The triumph of the motto is a fact. This simple phrase brings together in an excellent form everything that Trump represents and has achieved since the day that he announced his intention to be the Republican Party candidate to run for The White House. “Make America Great Again” no matter what or who stands in front.
He is a clear representative of the famous phrase that Niccolò Machiavelli said: “the end justifies the means”. But in his case, it is debatable whether the ends are beneficial. Trump’s self-centered vision of power has reduced American politics to a constant debate about every whimsical decision the President makes.
Trump’s strategy has been a success. He is the forerunner of a new way of doing politics that has revolutionized everything that was taken for granted. The President is the creator of many trends that are now being tried in other countries. Many of the leaders on the right-wing extremism are copying his techniques to win general elections. There is a before and after in political communication since his inauguration as President. Some of the most important decisions are announced by social networks. In a direct way, without going through the filter of the press and underestimating their role in democratic societies.
It’s valuable that he survived a successful election campaign in which almost all the media were against him. He also has the merit of having convinced a large part of society to choose him and to support him in carrying out promises that seem impossible and that are now happening.
In this new era, cordiality, education, and respect for one’s adversary have disappeared. The ideological debate has become impoverished in arguments. It is full of prefabricated ideas and lies. But it does not matter that certain truths are demonstrated, there is only interest in being right and establishing your own convictions. The healthy discrepancy between adversaries has given rise to a scenario of political polarization in which there are only two sides.
Normally, when politicians come to power they are told to approve everything promised during the campaign. People pressure them and scrutinize them to fulfill everything they promised. In Trump’s particular case, it was better than everything he promised no to deliver. It seemed impossible for the madness of building a wall to occur. No one had predicted that the United States would cease to lead important international agreements such as the Paris Climate Change Agreement or the Nuclear deal with Iran. Foreign policy has focused on economic sanctions and trade wars, in a fierce competition between the United States and China. On the social side, Trump’s victory has meant a loss of rights for the LGBTI community and the consolidation of a person who justifies certain misogynist behaviors.
More than a month ago the most important leaders met in the NATO Summit London 2019 to discuss the most important issues of the international alliance. A video went viral in which some leaders mocked on how Trump acts. It’s a simple fact that shows that internationally Donald Trump has lost credibility and trust in partners it has always had. Globally, they see that in The White House there is a ruthless and unreliable man. No one wants to enter into conflict for fear of the consequences or because it is not convenient. World leaders see that the Oval Office is occupied by an irresponsible and unpredictable ally.
Furthermore, the impeachment process has been set in motion and Trump, although still in office, is already historically marked by this political trial which demonstrates society’s lack of confidence in his actions. It’s not because he’s a controversial figure, it’s because he’s actions defined him. And the Senate will judge him on that.
He is making America great again. Only for a few. Since he became president, society has become more divided and polarized on fundamental issues. And it is the democratic values that underpin society and that allow him to continue to govern. But the drift he has undertaken need to be repaired immediately.
Has Donald Trump damaged America’s standing in the world – or has he delivered on his campaign slogan, and made America Great Again? 