Donald Trump’s return as the 47th president marks a Republican resurgence. Despite heavy media criticism & two fatal attacks during his nearly 700-day campaign, his ‘America First’ agenda, focused on tax cuts & industry revitalization, is set to shape his term.
But as Trump seeks to tackle inflation & promote a conservative agenda, will this approach resonate with Americans this time around?
Election Results
With the historical win of Trump, James David Vance is set to become Vice President. Trump reaffirmed his “Make America Great Again” vision, emphasizing that America’s oil reserves surpass those of Saudi Arabia & Russia, making energy independence a top priority.
He also praised supporter Elon Musk’s recent space ventures, suggesting they highlight America’s technological prowess & bolster its power stance over China and Russia.
Donald Trump speaks at the Palm Beach County Convention Center following early results from the 2024 U.S presidential election [Reuters]
Voter Demographics
Younger voters and working-class Americans fueled Trump’s 2024 comeback, with slight shifts among non-white voters contributing to his strong performance in swing states.
As final counts wrap up, precincts are still tallying in-person, absentee, & mail-in ballots.
Democrats: Led by Kamala Harris, the Democrats push for policies supporting abortion rights and healthcare reform. Harris’s agenda promised continued support for Ukraine and economic competitiveness against China.
Republicans: The Grand Old Party’s (GOP) neoliberal approach under Trump stresses deregulation, lower taxes, and aggressive tariff policies, aiming for reduced foreign involvement and a bolstered domestic economy.
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris
Electoral College and Swing States
With 270 minimum electoral votes required to win, Trump leads with 279 votes, while Harris has 223. Trump’s victory has been declared, with his success in key swing states helping secure his path back to the White House.
Crucial wins in Georgia (16 electoral votes), North Carolina (16), and Pennsylvania (19) have strengthened his position, although other swing states, including Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin, remain too close to call.
Key Policy Differences
Foreign Policy: Harris favours for continued aid to Ukraine and a two-state solution in Israel-Palestine, while Trump emphasizes reducing foreign military commitments. He proposes a swift peace in Ukraine and presents himself as a firm ally of Israel.
Trade and Tax: Harris pledged tax cuts for middle-income families and a corporate tax increase, while Trump’s trade policies emphasize tariffs, particularly targeting Chinese goods to boost U.S. industries.
Border Security & Immigration: Harris advocates immigration reform, while Trump intends to expand deportations and complete the border wall.
Climate: Harris supports renewable energy via the Inflation Reduction Act, while Trump backs Arctic drilling and expanded fossil fuel production.
Guns: Harris advocates stricter gun laws, whereas Trump is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, promising to protect gun rights.
Impact on South Asia
South Asian nations are closely watching Trump’s return, anticipating potential shifts in U.S. alliances and policies. Analysts foresee stronger U.S.-India maritime cooperation to counter China.
Pakistan: With the U.S. as Pakistan’s fourth-largest export partner, Trump’s focus may lie on climate and clean energy initiatives. The influential Pakistani-American community could impact bilateral relations, with Trump supporters like Syed Jawad Anwar potentially affecting the policy landscape.
India: Trump’s restrictive export policies could strain relations, particularly in light of India’s close ties with Russia. Canada-India tensions may also influence policy directions.
Afghanistan: The Taliban favors a practical U.S. policy; Trump’s administration previously negotiated the U.S. military withdrawal, though ongoing development aid remains uncertain.
Bangladesh: With Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus leading Bangladesh’s interim government, U.S. ties could strengthen even as Bangladesh maintains a strategic relationship with China.
Trump’s “America First” policy will greatly affect relations with South Asian countries
Timeline and Potential Scenarios
As Trump prepares to resume office with the Republican Party regaining control of the U.S. Senate, his victory speech promised to heal America. Historically, election result outcomes have varied in timing:
2020: Biden’s win confirmed four days post-election. 2016: Trump’s victory was announced hours after polls closed. 2012: Obama’s re-election was declared on election night.
Isolationism & America First Foreign Policy
Trump’s agenda signals a shift toward isolationism in some areas, with reduced foreign military engagements & an “America First” trade policy designed to reduce reliance on China.
His Middle East focus will likely strengthen ties with Israel, echoing his first term when he authorized airstrikes in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, & other regions. U.S. drone strikes in Syria, for instance, increased by 400% during his presidency, with 65 U.S. troops and hundreds of thousands of civilians losing their lives in overseas conflicts.
As president-elect, Trump will assume office after the inauguration on January 20, 2025, marking the start of an administration whose policies will impact both domestic & international relations.
His “America First” doctrine will redefine global alliances, particularly within the Indo-Pacific region—a strategy both Trump & Biden have supported. In 2019, Trump’s administration published the Indo-Pacific Strategy, aiming to maintain a “free and open” region through strengthening alliances and countering China’s growing influence.
Trump’s “America First” doctrine will redefine global alliances [Reuters]
SAT Commentaries’ are social media threads by various authors, reproduced here for website use. Views are their own.
SAT Commentary
SAT Commentaries, a collection of insightful social media threads on current events and social issues, featuring diverse perspectives from various authors.
SAT Commentary
SAT Commentaries, a collection of insightful social media threads on current events and social issues, featuring diverse perspectives from various authors.
The Taliban’s confrontation with Pakistan reveals a deeper failure at the heart of their rule: an insurgent movement incapable of governing the state it conquered. Bound by rigid ideology and fractured by internal rivalries, the Taliban have turned their military victory into a political and economic collapse, exposing the limits of ruling through insurgent logic.
As the U.S. unwinds decades of technological interdependence with China, a new industrial and strategic order is emerging. Through selective decoupling, focused on chips, AI, and critical supply chains, Washington aims to restore domestic manufacturing, secure data sovereignty, and revive the Hamiltonian vision of national self-reliance. This is not isolationism but a recalibration of globalization on America’s terms.
The collapse of the Turkiye-hosted talks to address the TTP threat was not a diplomatic failure but a calculated act of sabotage from within the Taliban regime. Deep factional divides—between Kandahar, Kabul, and Khost blocs—turned mediation into chaos, as Kabul’s power players sought to use the TTP issue as leverage for U.S. re-engagement and financial relief. The episode exposed a regime too fractured and self-interested to act against terrorism or uphold sovereignty.
The deepening India-Afghanistan engagement marks a new strategic era in South Asia. Beneath the façade of humanitarian cooperation lies a calculated effort to constrict Pakistan’s strategic space, from intelligence leverage and soft power projection to potential encirclement on both eastern and western fronts. Drawing from the insights of Iqbal and Khushhal Khan Khattak, this analysis argues that Pakistan must reclaim its strategic selfhood, strengthen regional diplomacy, and transform its western border from a vulnerability into a vision of regional connectivity and stability.
The recent talks in Turkey, attended by Afghan representatives, exposed the delicate politics of legitimacy and agency in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. By rejecting the Taliban’s proposal to include the TTP, Pakistan safeguarded its sovereignty and avoided legitimizing a militant group as a political actor, preserving its authority and strategic narrative.
Trump’s 2024 Comeback: Renewing the ‘America First’ Agenda
Donald Trump’s return as the 47th president marks a Republican resurgence. Despite heavy media criticism & two fatal attacks during his nearly 700-day campaign, his ‘America First’ agenda, focused on tax cuts & industry revitalization, is set to shape his term.
But as Trump seeks to tackle inflation & promote a conservative agenda, will this approach resonate with Americans this time around?
Election Results
With the historical win of Trump, James David Vance is set to become Vice President. Trump reaffirmed his “Make America Great Again” vision, emphasizing that America’s oil reserves surpass those of Saudi Arabia & Russia, making energy independence a top priority.
He also praised supporter Elon Musk’s recent space ventures, suggesting they highlight America’s technological prowess & bolster its power stance over China and Russia.
Voter Demographics
Younger voters and working-class Americans fueled Trump’s 2024 comeback, with slight shifts among non-white voters contributing to his strong performance in swing states.
As final counts wrap up, precincts are still tallying in-person, absentee, & mail-in ballots.
Also See: US Elections 2024: Trump Returns to The White House
Party Positions and Policy Differences
Democrats:
Led by Kamala Harris, the Democrats push for policies supporting abortion rights and healthcare reform. Harris’s agenda promised continued support for Ukraine and economic competitiveness against China.
Republicans:
The Grand Old Party’s (GOP) neoliberal approach under Trump stresses deregulation, lower taxes, and aggressive tariff policies, aiming for reduced foreign involvement and a bolstered domestic economy.
Electoral College and Swing States
With 270 minimum electoral votes required to win, Trump leads with 279 votes, while Harris has 223. Trump’s victory has been declared, with his success in key swing states helping secure his path back to the White House.
Crucial wins in Georgia (16 electoral votes), North Carolina (16), and Pennsylvania (19) have strengthened his position, although other swing states, including Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin, remain too close to call.
Key Policy Differences
Impact on South Asia
South Asian nations are closely watching Trump’s return, anticipating potential shifts in U.S. alliances and policies. Analysts foresee stronger U.S.-India maritime cooperation to counter China.
Timeline and Potential Scenarios
As Trump prepares to resume office with the Republican Party regaining control of the U.S. Senate, his victory speech promised to heal America. Historically, election result outcomes have varied in timing:
2020: Biden’s win confirmed four days post-election.
2016: Trump’s victory was announced hours after polls closed.
2012: Obama’s re-election was declared on election night.
Isolationism & America First Foreign Policy
Trump’s agenda signals a shift toward isolationism in some areas, with reduced foreign military engagements & an “America First” trade policy designed to reduce reliance on China.
His Middle East focus will likely strengthen ties with Israel, echoing his first term when he authorized airstrikes in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, & other regions. U.S. drone strikes in Syria, for instance, increased by 400% during his presidency, with 65 U.S. troops and hundreds of thousands of civilians losing their lives in overseas conflicts.
As president-elect, Trump will assume office after the inauguration on January 20, 2025, marking the start of an administration whose policies will impact both domestic & international relations.
His “America First” doctrine will redefine global alliances, particularly within the Indo-Pacific region—a strategy both Trump & Biden have supported. In 2019, Trump’s administration published the Indo-Pacific Strategy, aiming to maintain a “free and open” region through strengthening alliances and countering China’s growing influence.
SAT Commentaries’ are social media threads by various authors, reproduced here for website use. Views are their own.
SAT Commentary
SAT Commentary
SAT Commentaries, a collection of insightful social media threads on current events and social issues, featuring diverse perspectives from various authors.
Recent
When Insurgents Rule: The Taliban’s Crisis of Governance
The Taliban’s confrontation with Pakistan reveals a deeper failure at the heart of their rule: an insurgent movement incapable of governing the state it conquered. Bound by rigid ideology and fractured by internal rivalries, the Taliban have turned their military victory into a political and economic collapse, exposing the limits of ruling through insurgent logic.
The Great Unknotting: America’s Tech Break with China, and the Return of the American System
As the U.S. unwinds decades of technological interdependence with China, a new industrial and strategic order is emerging. Through selective decoupling, focused on chips, AI, and critical supply chains, Washington aims to restore domestic manufacturing, secure data sovereignty, and revive the Hamiltonian vision of national self-reliance. This is not isolationism but a recalibration of globalization on America’s terms.
Inside the Istanbul Talks: How Taliban Factionalism Killed a Peace Deal
The collapse of the Turkiye-hosted talks to address the TTP threat was not a diplomatic failure but a calculated act of sabotage from within the Taliban regime. Deep factional divides—between Kandahar, Kabul, and Khost blocs—turned mediation into chaos, as Kabul’s power players sought to use the TTP issue as leverage for U.S. re-engagement and financial relief. The episode exposed a regime too fractured and self-interested to act against terrorism or uphold sovereignty.
The Indo-Afghan Arc: Rewriting Pakistan’s Strategic Geography
The deepening India-Afghanistan engagement marks a new strategic era in South Asia. Beneath the façade of humanitarian cooperation lies a calculated effort to constrict Pakistan’s strategic space, from intelligence leverage and soft power projection to potential encirclement on both eastern and western fronts. Drawing from the insights of Iqbal and Khushhal Khan Khattak, this analysis argues that Pakistan must reclaim its strategic selfhood, strengthen regional diplomacy, and transform its western border from a vulnerability into a vision of regional connectivity and stability.
Legitimacy, Agency, and the Illusion of Mediation
The recent talks in Turkey, attended by Afghan representatives, exposed the delicate politics of legitimacy and agency in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. By rejecting the Taliban’s proposal to include the TTP, Pakistan safeguarded its sovereignty and avoided legitimizing a militant group as a political actor, preserving its authority and strategic narrative.