Trumpism, rooted in nationalism and populism, reshapes U.S. politics with its anti-elite, anti-globalist doctrine. Photo/X.
Trumpism has been one of the most polarizing and powerful political ideas in the United States in the past decade since the entry of President Donald Trump into poltics.
Although it started with Trump, the ideology has since turned into a political doctrine more extensive than the man himself. The idea is deeply grounded in a culture and politics of distrust for centuries old established institutions. It brews discontent with the existing political class, captures the anxieties and resentments of significant sections of US society particulary the rural class and those who find democratic pary clashing with the American ideas.
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The world is witnessing a surge in populism. From East to West, populists are winning back to back elections. It is in this backdrop, Trumpism has gained traction by riding the back of a traditional charismatic leader whoe employs some unorthodox political language. This idea is considered to be in stark opposition to politics of the elite. Over the time it has attracted millions who felt marginalized in the age of globalization and cultural liberalism.
Donald Trump has merged the right-wing populism and nationalism,therbey directly challenging the established order and giving way to what is now called trumpism. Trump cornered the politocal elite of the US with his propaganda. He questioned globalization, immigration, and liberal institutions and declared that this brand of politics has hurt America only by draining billions.
Trump is not the first person to champion this worldview. The ideas such as “America First” isolationism have existed in US politics for decades.
Some 200 years ago there was on US President named Andrew Jackson. He espoused similar ideas and had a belief that the US should avoid foreign entanglements unless directly threatened.
Trump has now only rebranded what many followed in US for decades. For achieve tgis he has used his own distinctive style -being media-savvy. This was propelled by his business background, showmanship and careless politician that he is.
Trumpism can be understood through a number of foundational pillars that defined both Trump’s first term and continue to influence the political landscape:
Trump has evolved as as a defender of the common American against a rotten political and media establishment under Democrats. This has won him the second US presidential term. Trumpian discourse appealed to US nationalistic feelings. He monetized the the anger of Americans who felt abandoned by globalization and liberalism once idolised in the country.
He has spoken pluralism and multiculturalism, calling these ideas as dangers to US national identity. Trump has foccuse on Americ first, a policy that espouses to focus to clear the mess within rather than focusing outwars even at the expense of putting traditional allies under strain. President Trump has taken a harsh stance on immmigration. Executive order was signed on the firs day on the birthright citizenship destroying the centuries old US immigration laws. Many have been detained and deported. ICE has been let loose.
Isolationism, one of Trump’s defining elements of foreign policy, prioritized keeping away from expensive military interventions and global obligations. Under Trumpism, US troops have been recalled from a number of foreign missions, and the U.S. withdrew from numerous international agreements, such as the Paris Climate Accord. The principle was straightforward – if there is no direct benefit to the US from a commitment, it should not be entered into. American allies who wanted US assistance were supposed to bear the costs.
The Trump administration took up protectionist policies to protect American business. In order to stimulate local manufacturing and limit foreign dependency, he levied import tariffs on several goods. The policy confronted globalization and free-market virtues head-on by putting American economic interests first, even at the cost of disturbing international commerce or angering allies and competitors equally, most significantly China.
Perhaps most uniquely, Trump governed from a business perspective. Self-identifying as a dealmaker, Trump applied a transactional worldview to both domestic and international issues. From trade talks to policy matters, his focus was on winning what he saw as “wins” for America, independent of ideological coherence. His administration, thus, frequently blurred the lines between business practicality and political ideology.
One of the defining features of Trumpism is its open hostility toward mainstream media. Trump opted out of conventional press channels, using social media, particularly , his own platform Truth Social as his primary method of communication. This approach allowed him to avoid critical media attention, frequently dismissing it as “fake news.”
Since the January 6 insurrection of the Capitol, Trumpism had been expected to fall. However, contrary to forecasts, the ideology has survived and thrive in his second term. Trump’s slow political revival and win over Kamala Harris show us thet Trumpism is the furure of American poltics.
Trumpism is said to be residing within American political culture. Its reach is not limited to elections only. Much of its fundamental ideology that us distrust of international institutions, contempt for elite agreement, and emphasis on nationalist economic priorities, still remains popular among millions.
All successful movements are based on an ideology that unites them, so is the Trumpisim. It draws its inspiration from Preident;s desire and what many see rhetoric to “Make America Great Again” (MAGA). While sometimes articulated with rhetorical flair, there is a pragmatic basis to Trump’s aims. The MAGA lobby has a strong base in US. Strategsts like Steve Banon, Laura Loomer and others have shown the power of MAGA. Even the recent controversy related to Epstein case has drawn home this point that MAGA feuls the ideology of Trumpism.
Trump’s nationalism is reminiscent of Ronald Reagan’s foreign policy strategy who focused on US interests first and foremost, especially in the Western Hemisphere.
Trump has given up on the idea of atleast truing to contain the rinternational powers such as Russia and China. In his first term and now also in the seond term he has pulled back thousands of American troops from Europe. He pushed NATO allies to spend more on defenseto much most of the countries agreed His administration’ has made it clear that Europe needs to carry its own burden, particularly following its bungling of the Ukraine crisis.
In his second term, Trump has now doubled down on attempts to remake America and its international stance. From the beginning, he aggressively remolded domestic, economic, and foreign policy. He has targeted the federal bureaucracy, defied judicial power, and attempted to purge liberal influence from the nation’s main institutions. He has take a hard stance on immigration.
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Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
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