From Mar-a-Lago to the White House, it is now time to deliver

The period from November 6 to now suggests that American politics has largely been shaped at Mar-a-Lago instead of the White House. Located in Palm Beach, Florida, Mar-a-Lago is President Donald Trump’s private club, where he has been actively “ruling,” making announcements and planning his next moves. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden seems to have faded into the background. A superficial impression may imply that a “colorless” Biden administration was merely an interlude between two Trump presidencies.

This raises some important considerations. In the older industrialized nations, politics must come to terms with significant and disruptive paradigm shifts in internal affairs, society and geopolitics. Many individuals – across politics and media – have failed to recognize these changes, choosing instead to cling to outdated policies and power structures. They have succumbed to “progressive” trends, engaged in appeasement politics and pursued excessive welfare measures. Unfortunately, these approaches have ultimately harmed both their countries and their citizens.

As these systemic issues persist, the disruptive changes they induce often create a demand for new leadership. Disruptive changes are rarely led by figures like Mr. Trump; rather, in the best cases, they create opportunities for different and extraordinary leaders to rise. The new conditions mold these individuals, and they must be capable of adapting and even taking charge of these changing situations.

Donald Trump advocates for a tougher stance on immigration, emphasizes the need to protect the American way of life and pushes for measures to strengthen the economy.

 

People are mainly concerned with prosperity, migration and security, believing that traditional politics has failed to provide real solutions. Issues such as diversity, equity, inclusion, gender identity and wokeness – supported by the previous administration and advocated by “old” oligarchs like George Soros and Bill Gates – have not addressed citizens’ concerns. In fact, these approaches have often made the situation worse.

President Trump’s grassroots views resonate with the concerns of many citizens, reflecting a trend also seen in Europe. He advocates for a tougher stance on immigration, emphasizes the need to protect the American way of life and pushes for measures to strengthen the economy.

While the United States economy is growing, persistent inflation, driven by overwhelming public debt, is affecting daily life. The Biden administration – and, more broadly, established politics on both sides of the Atlantic – has focused on providing relief through welfare initiatives and higher taxes on the wealthy. However, this is not a feasible solution – people recognize that.

Although it is unlikely that public deficits will drastically decrease under President Trump’s second term, a more business-friendly approach to governance, combined with reduced bureaucracy and lower taxes, may finally boost overall prosperity and help reduce deficits to an extent. Economic growth fueled by tax cuts could result in increased total tax revenues. In this regard, new governments around the world will need to take action. It is better to have innovative and creative entrepreneurs acting and even in leadership roles instead of technocrats solely focused on redistributing debt.

In his final formal address as president, Mr. Biden cautioned against the growing influence of oligarchs, likely referring to Elon Musk. Big businesses have long played a significant role in politics – often for good reasons – illustrated by the lobbying industry, which plays a legitimate role in informing politicians from all perspectives. However, the nature of these “oligarchs” is shifting. While figures such as Mr. Gates and Mr. Soros held significant sway, we now witness the rise of new influencers like Mr. Musk.

The “young oligarchs” are also aware of the changes, particularly the shifting power dynamics and influence in global politics, redefining traditional roles. This awareness is exemplified by Mark Zuckerberg’s overhaul of the fact-checking process at Meta, highlighting how these new tech entrepreneurs adapt to contemporary challenges. Meta will replace fact-checking with a community notes system, allowing users to flag potentially misleading or false posts. Historically, fact-checkers often went beyond merely verifying facts to prevent genuine misinformation; they regularly dismissed opinions that did not align with their values across various societal, political and ethical dimensions.

While it is within their rights to make such changes in the name of free expression and plurality, the timing of Mr. Zuckerberg’s decision might appear opportunistic. Regardless of the motivations behind this shift, it is clear that there is an acknowledgment of the need for change. Furthermore, Meta is moving away from prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion within its human resources framework, similar to how BlackRock has eased its rigid environmental, social and governance policies in investments.

Elon Musk has openly criticized European governments, justifiably highlighting significant issues that need addressing.

 

Similarly, another tech entrepreneur navigating this evolving landscape is Mr. Musk. Much speculation surrounds his upcoming role in the new Trump administration, where he will lead the Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE. Improving government efficiency is crucial not only for the economy and society but also for dedicated civil servants who often find their work hindered by huge and overregulated departments.

Mr. Musk has openly criticized European governments, justifiably highlighting significant issues that need addressing. He has taken aim at the United Kingdom’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, promoted the nationalistic political party Alternative for Germany and has made sharp remarks about other European leaders. This has been a challenging situation for Europeans, who not only face some hard truths but also perceive themselves as morally and intellectually superior, feeling entitled to criticize the rest of the world. That perceived monopoly is now gone.

A visibly frail President Biden appeared to be pressured by his advisors to launch his re-election campaign. They believed he was their best chance at defeating Mr. Trump. This strategy backfired.

For Mr. Trump, Mar-a-Lago’s moment at the center of U.S. politics ends with his inauguration as the 47th president. The time has arrived for decisive action and policy implementation. A new era, which has been steadily forming, has now become a reality in the White House.

This comment was originally published here: https://www.gisreportsonline.com/r/new-trump-administration/