Donald Trump’s return to the White House, marked by a highly contentious inauguration, has set a tone of defiance and unpredictability. From controversial displays, including Nazi salutes, to the signing of executive orders before a charged crowd, the event highlighted the divisive approach likely to define his administration. Within just 24 hours, Trump’s policies have already dismantled diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the country, representing a significant setback for human rights and the progress achieved by previous generations in advancing equality, democracy, and freedom. Rather than progress, this marks a regression into social and political division.
The repeal of DEI policies threatens to erase hard-won opportunities for minorities, women, and individuals with disabilities, undoing years of advancements in workplace equity and inclusion. For Trump’s supporters, including career women, African Americans, and Latinos, the impact of these decisions raises difficult questions about the implications of their endorsement. Domestically, economic challenges are also on the horizon as Trump announced a 25% tariff on food imports from Canada and Mexico, nations that send 75% of their exports to the United States. This move risks inflation and job losses in these economies, despite Trump’s earlier renegotiation of NAFTA into the USMCA, a deal he now appears to undermine.
On the international front, Trump’s promise to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict within 24 hours of taking office has already proven unattainable. Additionally, his commitment to reducing grocery and gas prices has been walked back. Most alarming is his decision to lift sanctions on West Bank settlers accused of human rights violations against Palestinians, signaling a dramatic and concerning shift in U.S. Middle East policy. This move has drawn particular scrutiny from Arab-American communities, including those in Dearborn, Michigan, who supported him.
As these policies unfold, the United States faces a period of heightened volatility and division. The world watches closely as this unfolding saga, aptly termed “Trump Against the World,” progresses. What the nation will ultimately become by the end of this administration remains an open and pressing question.
Written by Saul Jawara
