In his inaugural address on January 20, 2025, the 47th President of the United States of America, Mr. Donald Trump, said a new golden era had begun for the US. “I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success,” he enthused. Trump, the Republican Party candidate, won the presidential election held on November 5, 2024. He beat his Democratic Party challenger, Kamala Harris, both on popular and Electoral College votes, and promised in his victory speech to make America great again.
In his first term in office between 2017 and 2021, Trump, 78, was impeached twice. He also had four criminal indictments. In his second coming, which made him the second President in America’s history to be elected on two non-consecutive terms, Trump appears to be moving in the same controversial direction.
Soon after his inauguration, held inside the Capitol Rotunda in Washington DC due to freezing temperature and high winds, Trump went to work. He signed a number of executive orders and memorandums which cover issues ranging from trade, immigration and US borders to US foreign aid, hiring of federal workers and civil rights. He not only directed the Attorney General and Homeland Security Secretary to create Homeland Security Task Forces in all 50 states to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs and transnational criminal organisations; he also designated international cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organisations. His foreign policy centres on putting America and its interests first. He ordered the withdrawal of the US from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and directed the White House Office of Management and Budget to stop future transfers of US money to the WHO.
Besides, Trump is bent on fighting illegal immigration, increasing energy production, and boosting American manufacturing through tariffs on foreign goods. He recognizes the existence of only two genders (male and female) in the US and renames the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, among others. “With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense. It’s all about common sense,” he said.
What appears to be the most controversial order is on birthright citizenship. Under the 14th Amendment, birthright citizenship states that “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.” A Supreme Court ruling had affirmed that a child born in the US to foreign parents, irrespective of the parents’ immigration status was a US citizen. Trump’s order, however, asserts that any child born in the US is not a citizen if the mother does not have legal immigration status or is only temporarily in the country legally; or the father is not a citizen of the US or lawful permanent resident. This order forbids US agencies from issuing any document recognizing such a child as a citizen. Already, some states have sued Trump on this executive order. Their argument is that it violates the 14th Amendment and that the President lacks the powers to unilaterally redefine constitutional provisions. A Washington state District Judge, John Coughenour, has even blocked the order calling it “blatantly unconstitutional.” But Trump has vowed to appeal against the ruling.
The world is watching with apprehension on the new leadership in the US. We do not know how far Trump will go in his sweeping changes, but we call for caution in some of his actions. The new Trump should have been sober. He appears to be playing more of insular politics and his is a manifestation of what some white Americans want. They voted Trump because they believe he will protect American interests especially border security and a more robust economy that will directly improve their daily lives. Americans needed a reversal of high inflation, job insecurity and income inequality that plagued the Joe Biden’s administration.
Nigeria needs to think twice in order to align properly with a new world order. It should ensure that its citizens are not thrown under the bus. At every point in time, the welfare of its citizens should be paramount. It is hoped that the cultural, trade and diplomatic relations between the two countries will not be truncated.
We congratulate Trump and wish to remind him that elections are over. He should carry everyone along. Let the golden era he promised be beneficial to all Americans. He should extend his hands of fellowship to all, including his opponents. He should be mindful of his words and actions and refrain from some of the actions he took in his first term as President. During his first term, he almost plunged the world into a nuclear war considering his hot exchanges with North Korea. Ironically, he has pledged this time that his proudest legacy would be that of a peacemaker and unifier. We hope this promise supersedes his current divisive rhetoric.