#696
One year ago today, on November 6, 2024,(Indian time) Donald Trump stormed back to the White House in a resounding victory that defied the polls and pundits. He didn't just clinch the Electoral College—he swept the popular vote and locked down every swing state from Pennsylvania to Arizona. For supporters like me, a global observer of American politics with roots in India's bustling democracy, it's been a rollercoaster worth the ride. I'd rate his first year back a solid 7 out of 10; an 8 would have demanded flawless execution, but in the gritty arena of governance, decent progress amid chaos feels like a win. As we mark this anniversary, let's unpack the highs, the headaches, and the horizon—lessons not just for America, but for anyone watching how superpowers reinvent themselves.
The scoreboard's brighter side shines through in policies that deliver on core promises. First, border security has tightened with closures and aggressive deportations targeting criminal migrants, even as Democrat-led cities like sanctuary havens in California and New York push back. Mainstream media's outcry over ICE "overreach" rings hollow—fact-checks confirm Trump's numbers lag behind Obama's record highs, debunking the hysteria. Second, "America First" hiring is gaining traction: curbs on H-1B visas prioritize U.S. workers, migration rules are being overhauled, and efforts to end birthright citizenship for children of non-residents face court battles but spotlight a quirky U.S. outlier—the only nation granting automatic citizenship this way. Tariffs, too, are leveling the global trade field, shielding domestic industries from cheap imports despite early supply-chain hiccups. On foreign fronts, Trump's diplomacy nudges toward peace in conflict zones like Ukraine and the Middle East, a slow burn but a welcome pivot from endless escalation. Domestically, inflation's cooling, prices stabilizing—progress, though groceries still sting.
Yet, shadows linger where execution falters. Republican infighting, fueled by rifts over Israel policy, Zionism debates, and anti-Semitism accusations, is fracturing the MAGA coalition in ways that stun even hardened observers. Neoconservative hawks, whispering regime-change fantasies in distant lands like Syria or Venezuela where America has no vital stake, pull Trump into avoidable quagmires. The military-industrial complex clings tighter than ever, its lobbyists a vise on budgets and strategy—Trump must pry free, and fast. Broader still, America's unipolar dominance is eroding; crumbling infrastructure, outdated defenses, mediocre education, and a foreign policy adrift demand urgent reinvention. Too many in his inner circle seem blind to this, feeding him outdated bravado that risks catastrophe. These aren't just gripes—they're warnings from a world watching Washington stumble.
Yesterday's off-year elections in deep-blue bastions like New York, Virginia, New Jersey, and California's referendums delivered predictable thumpings for Republicans. Without Trump on the ballot, turnout cratered among our base, turning hoped-for upsets—like a tight New Jersey gubernatorial race—into routs. It's a gut-check, not a shock: these are entrenched progressive strongholds. But the margins scream complacency, echoing California's voter on Proposition 50 for Jerrymandering. (On expected lines).
Looking ahead, Republicans can't afford denial. Democrats remain a gift-wrapped foil—leaderless, wedded to divisive social experiments and tone-deaf on economics that alienate swing voters in pivotal states. Yet victory in 2026 midterms or 2028 demands sweat from GoP: expose the Democrats' chaos, rally independents with voter drives (Trump or not), and purge the "Trump Derangement Syndrome" and RINO deadweight (Within) for a unified front. Leaders like Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader John Thune must pony up cash and manpower, not leave foot soldiers hanging as Democrats outspend us as Coacine Mitch does. The current government shutdown saga—now dragging into its 36th day, a shameful record—exposes the stalemate. Trump's 2024 momentum was hard-won; squander it, and we'll grind to irrelevance. For global watchers, this isn't just U.S. drama—it's a blueprint for bold leadership in turbulent times. Here's to course-correcting: America, and the world, needs it.
Karthik
6/11/25 9am.
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