Introduction
In recent times, the world we inhabit has become a recurring topic in almost every dinner conversation. While one generation recalls defining moments like the fall of the Berlin Wall or the collapse of the USSR, others remember the day when the United States arrested Nicolás Maduro. In Latin America, following the U.S. intervention in Venezuela, there is increasing awareness and discussion about the magnitude of change brought by Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
Trump’s Unpredictable Presidency
A few days ago, I wrote about the multiple versions of the U.S. president operating simultaneously without order or hierarchy. This week marks another year since his return to the Oval Office, and there are numerous assessments of the past 365 days. The challenge lies in keeping up with his erratic progression; Trump does not advance in a straight line. He disrupts, accelerates, and throws things off balance. Just as we think we understand his moves, he shifts to something else.
Key Events of the Past Year
- Mass deployment of ICE agents in U.S. cities
- Threats to invoke the Insurrection Act
- Explicit warnings about taking Greenland
- Demolition of the East Wing of the White House
- Military capture of Maduro
- Full pardon for those responsible for the January 6 Capitol riot
- Public humiliation of Volodymyr Zelensky
- Penal investigations against political adversaries and independent authorities
- Imposition of massive tariffs and global trade wars
- Bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities
- Attempts to eliminate birthright citizenship
This list is not exhaustive but does reveal Trump’s maximalist strategy. He governs as if stretching a rubber band to the brink of breaking, only to do it again. His decisions become normalized over time, and initial outrage fades as life continues. The system often concedes.
Support and Resistance to Trumpism
Trump does not rule in a vacuum. He is supported by a segment of society, either through agreement or fatigue, and surrounded by a political, corporate, and technological elite that has learned the new language of power: flattery, concessions, and avoiding direct confrontation. A recent scene with executives from major global oil companies exemplified this submission: “Yes, sir” and “Thank you, Mr. President” were repeated dutifully, despite the lack of enthusiasm for investing in Venezuela.
Why So Little Resistance to Trumpism?
This raises the question of why there is so little effective resistance to Trumpism, or at least why entire societies accept the erosion of norms and rights. Perhaps Trump’s political skill lies in choosing battles that appear reasonable, even when crossing previously uncrossable boundaries. I think again of Venezuela; no one will take to the streets to defend a dictator.
Contrasting First and Second Terms
The difference between his first and second terms is crucial. Then, there was more indignation, friction, even within his own administration. There was dissent among top advisors and career bureaucrats who saw themselves as checks on power, believing Trump was an anomaly that the system would correct. Today, that perspective has flipped. Trump is not an accident but a discomfiting reflection of the United States.
A Year Later: Uncertain Future
One year after Trump’s return, the question is no longer just how far he can go but how much more his environment can concede without resisting. Perhaps the truly unsettling aspect is not what he has done in these twelve months but the realization that the acceptable threshold has shifted, and there is no certainty about reversing it or the will to try.
Key Questions and Answers
- Why is Trump’s presidency so unpredictable? Trump governs with a maximalist strategy, constantly pushing boundaries and normalizing his decisions over time.
- What is the reaction to Trump’s actions? There is little effective resistance, partly because Trump chooses battles that appear reasonable, even when crossing previously uncrossable lines.
- How has Trump’s rule evolved since his first term? Initially, there was more indignation and dissent within Trump’s administration. Now, Trump is seen as a reflection of the United States rather than an anomaly.
- What are the implications of Trump’s shifting acceptable threshold? The future is uncertain, as it’s unclear whether the shift in what is considered acceptable can be reversed or if there is the will to attempt it.
