In light of the significant victory of elected President Donald Trump over Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, the Trump phenomenon is back in the spotlight, particularly as we approach the official inauguration of the Republican administration on January 20 of next year. This phenomenon was clearly shaped during Trump’s first presidential term; it suffered a major setback following his defeat by Democratic President Joe Biden in the 2020 election, which took place amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic and troubled economic conditions. However, it quickly succeeded in rebranding itself within American society, culminating in its triumph in the recent presidential elections.
The Trump phenomenon is regarded as one of the most prominent political phenomena that has sparked debate in the United States and the world over the past decade. It transcended the personality of Donald Trump to become a political doctrine rooted in a tense social and political reality characterized by distrust in traditional institutions and growing discontent with the ruling political class. This phenomenon emerged within a global context marked by a rise in populism, relying on a different discourse and a charismatic personality that succeeded in attracting broad segments of American society. In this context, several questions arise regarding this phenomenon: What are its foundations? How did it emerge? Will it continue to exert influence after Trump’s term ends?
Defining and Originating Trumpism
Trumpism is a political phenomenon that emerged with Donald Trump’s rise in the American political arena and has grown into a social and cultural movement that extends beyond his personal identity. It can be defined as a mixture of right-wing populism and nationalism; Trump’s rhetoric opposed traditional political elites and expressed widespread discontent among the American people regarding globalization, immigration, and alleged threats from liberal institutions.
It is important to note that the ideas promoted by Trump, such as “isolationism and prioritizing the United States over any relationships or alliances,” are not sudden; they have deep roots in the American political context that date back many years. One of the earliest indicators of this is the vision of former President Andrew Jackson nearly two hundred years ago, who believed that the country should intervene in foreign conflicts only in self-defense. This perspective aligns closely with Trump’s calls. It can be stated that this set of ideas required a charismatic political figure to embrace and re-market it to American society in a more audacious and less conservative manner than before, which Trump achieved notably, drawing on his background as a businessman.
At the beginning of the new millennium, several factors helped pave the way for Trumpism, notably the significant presence of a pro-globalization movement countered by other anti-globalization currents, resulting in a significant degree of political polarization. The impact of the 2008 global financial crisis also played a crucial role in instilling feelings of frustration among many Americans, particularly white working-class individuals, towards a political elite they deemed responsible for their economic and social decline. Additionally, the media, particularly social media, played a pivotal role in disseminating Trump’s ideas and attracting supporters through simple and direct discourse addressing issues of concern to ordinary Americans. Thus, it can be said that Trumpism is the result of an interaction of several economic, social, and cultural factors, reflected in the rising populist movements worldwide, especially in America, where traditional politics impeded the radical change sought by broad segments of society.
Characteristics and Traits of Trumpism
There are several basic pillars upon which Trumpism stands. By delving into these, we can infer the United States’ behavior regarding various major issues. These pillars largely defined the nature of U.S. behavior during Trump’s first term, and as he is anticipated to return, they are resurfacing to redefine political conduct in the White House. The most prominent pillars that shaped this phenomenon and distinguished it from other political movements can be outlined as follows:
Anti-Traditional Media One of the fundamental pillars of the Trump phenomenon is its opposition to traditional media. Trump adopted an unprecedented approach to engaging with the American public, bypassing conventional media channels. Instead of using official press conferences or traditional news releases, Trump relied on Twitter (now X) as his primary platform for announcing his administration’s decisions and expressing his views on local and international issues. This approach allowed him to circumvent traditional media’s critical coverage, which often branded his outputs as “fake news,” accusing it of distorting facts to serve agendas opposed to him. Even when Twitter banned his account following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots, he did not waver in his approach and launched his platform “Truth Social” as an alternative to reflect his vision of unrestricted media.
A Mix of Populism and Nationalism The populist rhetoric stirred by nationalistic sentiments played a central role in solidifying Trumpism’s status within American society. Trump positioned himself as a representative of the people against political and media elites, exploiting the feelings of frustration and anger among broad segments of Americans who felt marginalized. Simultaneously, he did not hesitate to criticize the Democratic approach based on plurality and cultural diversity, seeing it as undermining nationalist ideals and threatening the unity of the American nation. Trump leveraged his populist rhetoric to serve his nationalist agenda, leading to a first-rate populist-nationalist relationship, which was evident in his continuous calls to prioritize national interests in U.S. domestic and foreign affairs, even at the risk of straining relations with traditional allies. Consequently, Trump viewed policies of alliances and international commitments negatively, considering them as draining the nation’s resources and weakening its economy, potentially benefiting competitors such as China and Russia. This nationalist trend was clearly manifested in his slogan “America First,” which embodied the principle of placing American interests above all other considerations.
Isolationism Isolationism emerged as a natural outcome of prioritizing national interests and the desire for the U.S. not to bear any costs arising from participating in military actions abroad or any agreements or alliances that might burden the economy. In this context, Trumpism sought to withdraw thousands of American soldiers from various locations around the world and rely on regional allies to perform the U.S. role. In line with this, Washington withdrew from several international commitments, notably the withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement. Thus, it can be stated that any action or decision yielding no real benefit for the U.S. would not receive support from the White House, and those seeking Washington’s backing must bear the associated costs.
Protectionism Protectionist policies focus on safeguarding American economic interests without regard for any interests or partnerships that could be adversely affected by Washington’s increasing economic protectionism. Consequently, Trumpism raised tariffs on incoming imports in an attempt to achieve two goals: first, to protect domestic industries and enhance their economic capabilities; and second, to attract numerous investors to establish their factories and companies within U.S. territory, positively influencing the country’s economic indicators. This approach puts free market economics and globalization at odds; it conflicts with open market policies between Washington and its allies and contributes to hindering the growth of competitor economies—chief among them, China. The priority lies solely in protecting the U.S. economy, disregarding any consequences that may harm others.
Deal-Making Politics This pillar distinguishes Trump and stands at the forefront of his political doctrine; he is a businessman who came from outside the traditional political establishment, not separating his conduct as a businessman from his role as President of the United States. What drives him—be it in domestic or foreign matters—is primarily a concept of profitable deals and pure pragmatism. By considering the “deal” pillar, one can understand Trump’s behavior towards various issues as one focused on deal-making above all as opposed to traditional political considerations.
The Future of Trumpism Post-Trump
Most analyses following the January 6, 2021, Capitol siege emphasized the conclusion of the Trump phenomenon and the belief that Trump’s chances of returning to the White House had largely dwindled. However, the years that followed Trump’s departure witnessed significant successes, notably his gradual re-emergence in the American political arena, culminating in his recent victory over Harris. From this context, two main insights can be drawn:
The Continued Impact of Trumpism The ideas represented by Trumpism continue to enjoy popularity within American society, garnering substantial support from broad segments, and altering them in the minds of American voters is not easily achieved. This reflects the deep-rooted and entrenched nature of the ideas encompassed by Trumpism.
Trumpism Transcending Trump Trumpism has become a political trend rather than merely a personal vision held by a political leader. The same Trump, whose approval ratings declined after the January 6 attack—even among his Republican supporters—was able to decisively win the electoral race upon his return, bringing forth the same ideas and trends. This indicates that voter support leaned not only towards Trump as an individual but also towards the political vision he represented regarding various issues. This shift opens the door for a new generation of American politicians who can sustain the presence of Trumpism for an extended period within the White House, even post-Trump’s final term.
In this context, the name “JD Vance” emerges prominently as a former Trump ally who enjoys significant support from him, potentially aiding Vance in maintaining the essence of Trumpism within decision-making circles for as long as possible. Notably, there are substantial similarities between Vance and Trump on various issues, particularly focusing on the lives of America’s white working-class and adopting positions reminiscent of those defining Trumpism—such as sharp criticism of globalization, affirming conservative values, and supporting the “America First” policy—while promoting a populist and nationalist discourse reflecting discontent with political elites. Furthermore, Vance relies on a methodology that promotes rejecting traditional institutions, emphasizes combating illegal immigration, and strengthens American cultural identity. In any case, Vance exemplifies how Trumpism can persist through new politicians, presenting himself as a contemporary alternative to Trump, ensuring the phenomenon’s continuity even after the latter’s departure from the political scene.
Conclusion: We are entering a new phase in American politics where Trumpism will once again take center stage; however, this time, Trump as a political leader has gained numerous experiences that will help reinforce his political doctrine. Trumpism has evolved into more than just an individual vision; it has transformed into a complete political doctrine central to shaping his conduct and approach to both domestic and foreign issues, further bolstered by significant public support. With Trump’s return to the political arena, this doctrine will continue to exert power and influence beyond the confines of the U.S., ushering in a political phase that may persist in its impact for decades to come, regardless of Trump’s presence.
References
[1] Neo-Jacksonianism: US Foreign Policy at a Historic Crossroads, Asia Pacific Security Magazine, 20/5/2020
https://www.asiapacificsecuritymagazine.com/neo-jacksonianism-us-foreign-policy-at-a-historic-crossroads/
[2] A look back at Americans’ reactions to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, Pew Research Center, 4/1/2022
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/01/04/a-look-back-at-americans-reactions-to-the-jan-6-riot-at-the-u-s-capitol/
[3] JD Vance’s nomination proves Trumpism is here to stay, The Telegraph, 16/7/2024
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/07/16/vance-nomination-proves-trumpism-is-here-to-stay/
