Washington DC: Donald Trump shimmied and hummed along with the American disco group ‘Village People’ on the stage, stirring around 20,000 fans to the exhilarating beats of YMCA—a song celebrating American society and 1970s culture.
Few US or world leaders his age have demonstrated such dexterity and confidence—traits typically associated with rockstars. But this is Donald Trump—a phenomenon dismissed disdainfully by his critics yet celebrated fervently by his admirers.
At his pre-inauguration victory rally, the Trump phenomenon was unmistakable. Trump and Americans of all age groups, classes and ethnicities sang and danced together, to the glory of God, family, freedom and American exceptionalism. The most powerful man in the world, serving as both the 45th and 47th President of the United States, embodied the idiom of traditional, common Americans as though he were one of them.
The Trump phenomenon represents a reclamation of core American values, which seemed rickety, limping and faltering in the last four years. As the themes of gender fluidity, racism, lawlessness, brazen corruption, reckless foreign interventions and a senile President predominated the Biden administration, the world watched in shock, at the erosion of common sense and the decline of the American empire.
America’s Fall
In New York, particularly Manhattan—the financial capital of the world—there is a palpable tension over changing demographics and a rise in violent crime. Many stores and neighbourhoods lack English speakers while incidents of rape, murder and racial crimes have surged. The streets reek of urine, weed and drugs; subways and underpasses are littered with filth, addicts and the homeless. Ageing infrastructure in many neighbourhoods is crumbling as visible poverty is growing. Similar signs of decay and chaos are evident in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other cities.
America’s regression—from a global dream to a waking nightmare, from envy to ridicule—over the past four decades is extraordinary. After the Second World War, America was the beacon of aspiration. People from all over the world sought to build lives in the US, fulfilling their wildest dreams in the land of opportunity. Its soft power was so potent that even communism with its promise of a classless society, couldn’t keep East Germany from yearning for West Germany.
However, the seeds of America’s decline were sown as soon as it emerged as the world’s unchallenged leader following the collapse of the Soviet Union. With no global rival, the US embraced globalization as a mantra. This benefitted America’s educated upper classes while hollowing out the middle and working classes. Manufacturing jobs disappeared as industries outsourced work to China and other countries, leaving many Americans economically marginalised.
Simultaneously, the US state expanded both vertically and horizontally, with little regulation and a lack of institutional oversight. This resulted in inefficiency and massive corruption of unprecedented magnitude in both public and private sectors in the US. As the US became entangled in multiple wars and conflict creation and management across the world, its unbridled expansionism led to corruption growing manifold, particularly in key industries such as the military, healthcare, education, energy etc.
As wealth and decision-making concentrated among elites, it left the middle and lower classes increasingly resentful. The growing inequality and technological revolution resulted in a cultural shift, deeply polarising America, with many moving away from nationalism and traditional values, lower birth rates, and replacement with immigrants, weakening the social fabric and triggering a vacuum and confusion about identity. This new culture of self-hatred and attacks on conservative values—family, community, faith—took hold in educational institutions, a movement now widely referred to as Wokism.
Trump’s Rise
Against this backdrop, Trump ran for the presidency in 2016, highlighting concerns over America’s social, political and economic decay. Democrats immediately framed him as a threat to democratic norms, branding him a populist, sexist, racist, and far-right extremist. His politically incorrect rhetoric on social media was portrayed as evidence of bad behaviour and unfitness for office.
From the moment Trump was elected in 2016, he became a target of the entrenched Washington establishment.
He was impeached twice—the first US president to face such penalisation. The first impeachment in December 2019 and the second following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots, reflected deep partisan divisions.
Trump’s presidency encountered significant legal challenges, with courts frequently blocking or overturning his executive orders. Career civil servants in federal agencies opposed his policies publicly. During his first term, violent protests erupted across the US, furled by allegations of racism.
By 2019, the anti-Trump rhetoric dominated urban areas across the US and hate for Donald Trump became a cultural currency, with departmental stores brazenly selling items which caricatured Trump. On the streets of many cities including Washington DC, vulgar naked statues of Trump were displayed publicly. So much fear was fanned that many who voted for Trump in 2016, hesitated to reveal their political views. The US witnessed unprecedented self-censorship and political correctness out of fear of social and political reprisals.
Amid relentless scrutiny and criticism from mainstream legacy media outlets, Hollywood stars and academia, the political climate grew increasingly polarised. This eventually led to his loss in the 2020 elections to Joe Biden, with Trump supporters levering allegations of electoral cheating and fraud committed by the Democratic party.
Soon after, Trump faced several criminal cases with a conviction in one lawsuit related to payments to an adult film worker, indictment for allegedly attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election, and charges for allegedly mishandling classified documents after leaving office. He and his sons also faced financial penalties and litigation against their businesses. Above all, he survived two assassination attempts in 2024.
The comeback of President Trump in the 2024 Presidential elections is therefore no mean feat. For many, his return to the White House symbolizes a resurrection akin to Jesus Christ.
But it is quite evident that Donald Trump’s emergence as a significant phenomenon in the United States in the last four years is because his appeal has broadened among various voter groups that traditionally leaned Democratic. Notably, he made substantial gains among Hispanic voters, particularly in battleground states like Pennsylvania and Michigan. Additionally, he improved his standing with younger voters, especially young men, and garnered increased support from Black voters in key regions. This shift reflects a changing electoral landscape where Trump has successfully attracted diverse coalitions, including union and non-union workers.
Voter dissatisfaction with rising inflation and the cost of living significantly influenced their preferences during the 2024 election. Trump’s messaging resonated with voters who felt economically marginalized, particularly in blue-collar communities. Economic hardship contradicted Biden’s claims of economic recovery, leading them to favour Trump’s promises of economic improvement. Trump’s MAGA base played a crucial role in his continued prominence. A substantial portion of self-identified Republicans aligned themselves with the MAGA movement, which fosters loyalty despite controversies surrounding his presidency. This unwavering support is bolstered by a shared belief among many Republicans that the 2020 election was fraudulent, reinforcing their commitment to Trump and his agenda.
Trump’s messaging also resonated on cultural issues. Many voters feel that Democratic policies on gender and racial equality have gone too far, leading them to align with Trump’s more conservative viewpoints. His stance on immigration and border control has particularly attracted Latino voters concerned about governance issues related to socialism in their countries of origin.
Golden Age of America?
Some signs that the U.S. has pulled itself out of deep polarization and negativity are evident in 2025. For example, there are no vulgar statues of Trump installed anywhere in the country. In the Washington D.C. metro station, one of the new metro cards features a portrait of Donald Trump. On the streets of Manhattan, hawkers freely sell MAGA hats and sweatshirts, with some even marketing and attracting buyers with taglines like, “This is Trump Country—get used to it.”
On Monday, after his swearing-in, President Trump, in his inaugural speech at Capitol Hill, reiterated that under his presidency, it would be “America First,” ushering the country into its “golden age.” He asserted his plan to put the U.S. on the path to recovery on all fronts. He announced a return to meritocracy, the end of wokeness in the military, the rollback of the “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) criteria for jobs and opportunities, the excavation of natural resources, and the designation of drug cartels and illegal immigration gangs as terrorist organizations.
He also announced that his administration would release the remaining records related to high-profile assassinations, including those of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr., to promote transparency. Additionally, he declared that there are only two genders—male and female—and is likely to put an end to the teaching of critical race theory in educational institutions.
All the symbolism and substance of Trump’s return to the White House seem to suggest that America is returning to its traditional mould after an unrecognizable transformation over the last four years. However, challenges for the Trump administration remain.
Despite a Republican-controlled Congress, President Trump may face resistance within his party and the Washington establishment, particularly concerning appointments like those of Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel. Not many appreciate the President’s close ties with Elon Musk and the tech lobby. There is also opposition to his vision and policies, such as his openness to bringing legal, meritorious immigrants from countries like India.
His proposed economic measures, including significant tax cuts and increased tariffs, have raised concerns among some economists about potential inflationary effects. Trump’s approach to international conflicts, such as those in Gaza and Ukraine, and his plans to impose higher tariffs on imports from China and India may strain diplomatic relations and disrupt global trade dynamics. His tough stance against illegal immigration is already being opposed by various human rights organizations.
The road ahead for President Trump is challenging, but no one can dispute that he has extended hope and confidence to an America reeling under confusion and chaos—especially at a time when the entire world is undergoing a reset. His comeback, one of the most significant in global history, is almost like a bloodless revolution or coup against the old world order.
