By Melarbor L Thabah
MAGA stands for Make America Great Again through policies that will benefit “America First” and its people from the perceived erstwhile non-beneficial policies. During Trump’s first term, there was great fanfare because here comes a man who was not directly connected nor intrinsic to the Washington DC elites. He was an outsider who funded his own campaign making him not beholden to the donors. In his first term, he did exactly what he said he would during his campaign – that is to impose tariffs on China, to build the border wall with Mexico, to ban the citizens of certain Muslims countries whom he thinks are dangerous, to not make America involved in foreign wars, to renegotiate NAFTA, to make NATO countries pay their fair share, to deport illegal immigrants, to extricate America from the Iranian nuclear agreement, to pass America’s mega infrastructure budget, to increase military spending and to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. It is rare and worth appreciating that a politician kept his word. He improved America’s standing in the world, had a good economy with the lowest black unemployment ever. He had a few failures too like ending all donors cum special interest lobbying groups, removing global banking control, ending free trade, not banning Chinese students and skilled immigrants.
His second term campaign was diluted and funded by various donors including Jewish lobby groups. He kept his election promise of imposing tax on all countries who had raised their tariffs to America’s detriment. He initially imposed high tariffs on China but reverted quickly to minor tariffs since China weaponised their control of the world’s rare earth elements. He allowed an estimated 600,000 Chinese students to study in America by stating that American educational institutions might go bankrupt without them. He promised to end the Russia – Ukraine war and the Gaza War but failed.
Israel Policy: He diluted MAGA for MIGA (Made Israeli Great Again) by placing “Israel First” instead of America. He recognized the Golan heights as Israel’s territory, bombed Iran on behalf of Israel, asked for pardon for the Israeli Prime Minister who was charged with bribery and fraud. He provided American weapons and praised Israel’s use of those weapons to carpet bomb Gaza. He was forced to release the files of the Jewish American Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein who had negotiated on behalf on the Israeli government with other countries. Trump provided America’s money to fund the Gaza genocide, the bombings of 16 churches, educational institutions, hospitals, mosques, use of chemical weapons, carpet bombings of entire communities, ghastly sniper killings of infants – children thereby allowing Israel to conduct the most barbaric slaughter and famine on innocent Gazans. He talks about transferring the Gazans to foreign nations, building casinos, resorts and setting up military bases in Gaza. Rich Zionist Jewish Americans have formed an oligarchy and used this concentrated power to full effect on this American President to make Israel first. Trump fails to realize that Zionist Americans are “Israel First and allows AIPAC and Israel to drag America to its wars. He has become the most pro-Israeli American president in history.
Trump’s policy on Americans: While Trump is busy with his external activities, the American people are suffering from high inflation like housing, rent, food and essential items. Donald Trump’s tariffs have led to inflation in prices of essential commodities and the money earned from tariffs has not been used to shield the American consumer by keeping prices down nor to better American lives. He is giving billions of American dollars to the Israel and Ukraine wars as opposed to investing on the American people and creating jobs for them. He increased the H1B visa amount thereby allowing around 170,000 thousand migrants to come and work in big tech American companies instead of employing many unemployed Americans. He belittles American techies by saying that they are not as talented as the immigrants all because tech companies have funded him. America’s national debt has increased to 38 trillion dollars during his first term and second terms. Dismantling of USAID and wasteful spending identified and stopped by Elon Musk’s Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has not resulted in using the saved money to repay the national debt and ease the American consumer but instead contributed to a rise in military spending from 700 billion to 1 trillion dollars. He grants tax cuts to big corporates but did not slash taxes for the American people coupled with jobs and investments. Wages are not rising to commensurate with inflation. He campaigned to end America’s endless wars yet he is on the verge of war with Iran and other nations which if it happens, vast sums of American money and lives will be lost. He tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act called Obama care which will affect millions of sick Americans out of spite for Obama whilst managing to round up 300 million for the White House Ball Room and 40 billion dollars for Argentina. Life and health insurance coverage have become more expensive under him.
Mass deportation of illegal immigrants is being carried at a snail’s pace with some skilled illegal immigrants being kept back for cheap labour to benefit the corporates thus doing a policy reversal. Wall street, corporates, Silicon Valley and other lobbying groups are working for their respective benefits and have succeeded in diluting Trump’s agenda at the cost of the American people. The US-Mexico border is closed after more than 10 million illegal aliens have been allowed to enter. Crime rate in America is high. Trump espouses to Make America Great Again but he is distracted with frivolous issues instead of working in the interest of Americans who helped him win the presidential election. He became a businessman again enriching himself and his family from bitcoin and other businesses. MAGA is now the biggest scam. Upon noticing that his favourability rating is dipping fast, he tries to pander to the Americans by ranting at the Ethiopian immigrants to rally his base but Americans see through this façade. The American people will have their say in the 2026 mid-term elections which will indirectly be a referendum on his presidency.
Trump and Modi: When the BJP took over in 1998, it improved relations with the USA culminating with the arrival of Bill Clinton in 2000 marking a thawing of relations between America and India. The Congress government which came thereafter and later Modi’s BJP followed the inroads made by their predecessors which achieved diplomatic success. Since Bill Clinton, every American President had visited India at least once. The good relations with the USA secured India, a non-NPT signatory nation in receiving nuclear technology from America, membership to the Missile Technology Control Regime, a strategic partner, 2+2 dialogue, quicker delivery of military technology, more visas for Indians, CATSA exemption for India, QUAD member, trade surplus and UNSC membership support. PM Modi had invested a lot of political capital to make this relationship work at a personal level with Trump. His investment succeeded during Trump’s first term but did not on his second term, with Trump imposing 50% tariffs on trade for buying Russian oil. This is the highest tariff imposed along with Brazil. Not even communist nations received these high tariffs which as per IMF, had hindered India’s growth and its exports immeasurably. Modi feels betrayed and is looking to BRICS and other nations to buffer the impact of these tariffs. This massive diplomatic failure is the culmination of Modi’s failure to realize that India is a dispensable partner because India’s economy is not intertwined with the America’s economy as China is and that India has no oil nor precious minerals to offer as China and Russia have. In essence, India has always been a very soft target. Modi is now calibrating his next move in the remaining three years of Trump’s presidency.
Takeover of nations: Donald Trump’s mindset is now on a takeover spree of certain nations which have minerals resources and for their strategic location. He had taken control of Venezuela’s oil, a nation which had the world’s largest proven oil reserves besides other minerals thus reinstating the Monroe doctrine which called for America’s domination of Latin America. He is threating to take over Greenland and make it part of America because of Greenland’s strategic location and possession of rare earth elements. He has shown some interest on Cuba because of its location. However, the situation is very tough with Iran, a nation rich in oil and gas reserves compared with the other nations since the repressive regime governing Iran has the capability of striking back at American interests. Under him, American hegemony is back, starting with a bill to impose 500% tariffs on nations buying Russian oil and imposing 10% tariffs on European allies for their support on the freewill of the people of Greenland and Denmark to decide on their future. The world is waiting with bated breath what the fickle minded American President will do in the remaining three years of his presidency.
