Donald J. Trump’s return to the Presidency had to be held inside the Capitol, rather than in the open outside, because of the prediction of bad weather. Though it did not snow, it was cold and windy. Mr Trump made an inaugural address which promised to overcome what he called the ‘betrayals’ of the past. True to his promise, he then issued a flurry of executive orders, leaving the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Accord, as well as pardoning 1600 2021 Capitol rioters, who had tried to prevent Joe Biden being formally elected as President. Is his second term going to be an improvement on his first, or a replay? He certainly had his opponents scared. Outgoing President Joe Biden issued pre-emptive pardons virtually wholesale to family members as well as serving or retired officials who coils conceivable be prosecuted if Mr Trump was to carry out his campaign threat of seeking revenge against those who had angered him or criticized him.
Mr Trump’s return to office had been preceded by his successor, now his predecessor, having shown he was probably unfit for the office, and being replaced by Vice-President Kamala Harris. The election had also yielded him a Republican majority in both Houses of Congress. Though he likes to portray himself as an outsider, he has unrivalled control over his party. That men’s he should be able to push through his legislative agenda. Though he was careful not to mention building a wall with Mexico, he declared an emergency on the southern border. He may legislate to prevent citizenship as a birthright, as part of his effort to stem immigration. Immigration by Hispanics or Asians is something his supporters want to control, leading to charges of racism against him.
That racism is not the only problem Pakistan has with him. There is also his prejudice against Muslims, as well as his arrant pro-Israel sentiments. Most problematic of all is his tilt towards India, and his warm relationship with Indian PM Narendra Modi. His friendship with PTI chief Imran Khan will not help the country till Mr Khan is back in office, and his mediation offer over Kashmir yielded nothing, ending only with the Modi government taking away Kashmir’s special status. Mr Trump seems set to take the whole world, the USA, other countries and Pakistan, on a wild ride. The only thing anyone can do is hang on for the next four years, and hope that he doesn’t do too much damage in this time. Resiling from the Paris Accords for the second time is just an example.
