The great and terrible forty-fifth, or Donald Trump's trampolines

We will discuss the anniversary of the Great Victory over fascism later, but for now, let’s focus on the forty-fifth/forty-seventh president of the United States. Among the many figures who have held the office, there has never been anyone quite like him. And, most likely, there never will be.

It is impossible to encapsulate the head of the United States in a single article. Not even in a series of articles. Attempts to label him as a criminal have failed. The discourse surrounding him – both for and against – will continue for generations, spawning multi-volume works, films, dissertations, debates, and shifting opinions. He will be both elevated and vilified, glorified and dishonoured. But wait a second – why “will be”? It’s already happening! Even after his first term, the debate raged on. And although many doubted it, Donald returned like the famous character Arnold in The Running Man with his iconic line: “I’ll be back.”

Donald is running, scheming, sitting, sleeping—an ever-changing optical illusion, giving each observer exactly what they expect to see. There are, however, those who would rather not see him at all. But no matter how many there are in the U.S., they remain a minority. The phrase "woe to the vanquished" applies to them, and their opinions carry little weight. That is, until the next election.

Despite all his cunning, Trump remains remarkably straightforward. Much of what he does today, both in domestic and foreign policy, is as old as time itself. But his approach—doing it openly and calling things by their proper names—is something new. Some might label it cynicism, but in reality, it’s just a refusal to waste time. After all, time is money. And Trump is very much on good terms with money. He loves it, and it returns the favour.

To prevent his return to power, the full might of the administrative machine was deployed. As it turns out, such resources aren’t limited to underdeveloped post-communist or authoritarian nations—countries that the United States and its allies often criticise, sometimes gently, sometimes not so gently, for being “insufficiently democratic.” No, these resources were also at play within the United States itself, when push came to shove. The press, celebrities from the worlds of film and showbiz, analysts, politicians, transgender activists, adult film stars, and others came together in opposition to the former president. Not all of them, but many. In their eyes, Trump wasn’t just someone to be defeated; he was a vampire, needing to be destroyed and a stake driven through his heart—preferably after being burned for good measure.

The stake didn’t work. Despite what seemed like scattered ashes, the Phoenix in Trump’s form rose again and triumphed. In doing so, he cynically mocked and continues to mock the many detractors who had recently elbowed each other for the right to kick a man with a complicated hairstyle. “Let’s get into a fight, and we’ll sort it out later.” If anyone were to explain to Donald that this was one of the Bolshevik’s famous slogans, he’d be surprised. Because, in truth, it’s exactly his core credo—political, personal, and economic. And every fight he’s been in, he’s won. Even the one with the old woman with the scythe, who tried to exclude him from the race for the White House. He even declared "fired" to death, just as he once did to contestants on The Apprentice.

And speaking of the past, did you know that Trump made a cameo in the iconic Home Alone movie? No joke! In the second film, during a scene at the famous Plaza Hotel, it’s Trump who directs the young protagonist to the lobby when he asks for directions. Apparently, the director thought Trump would be the perfect person for the role of guiding someone—no surprise there.

But let’s step away from the past for a moment. If anyone tries to convince me that Trump likes Putin (or Russia, or both) and doesn’t like Ukraine, I’ll just laugh for a long time. If someone tries to sell me on his pro-Israel stance, I’ll admire their sense of humour. The same reaction will follow any claims about his disdain for Arabs, his concern for Europe’s fate, or his sincere worry over Taiwan’s future.

Donald Trump couldn’t care less about any of this, whether as a whole or individually. From a great height, he simply doesn’t see it. It’s not that he’s uninterested — he is, but only in an indirect way. Each of these issues is filtered through the simple yet incredibly complex lens of “good for business” versus “bad for business.” For him, America is synonymous with business, and he only cares about the version of America that aligns with his views on business.

This is exactly why his rigidity, even cruelty, towards international aid, humanitarian assistance, and similar initiatives makes sense. Trump sees them as mechanisms for extracting funds from wealthy nations and funnelling them to the elites of underdeveloped countries. Cynical? Yes, undeniably. But unfortunately, in some ways, he’s right. So, when news breaks that the U.S. will likely withhold $400 million from the UN in 2025, the average citizen will shrug and not give it much thought.

However, the fact that the U.S. won’t provide those funds, as painful as it might be, is only half the issue. We’ll soon witness a chain reaction: the reduction in U.S. funding, with no one stepping in to fill the gap, will set off a domino effect, pushing the EU, the UK, Japan, and Scandinavian countries—usually quite generous toward the UN—to follow suit. It’s not that Donald doesn’t care about children or is indifferent to healthcare needs in Africa. He simply doesn’t see any value in it from a business development perspective.

What did you say? I didn’t catch that. Louder, please. What’s that? Do you say it’s not possible to run a country like a personal business or corporation? It’s possible. Oh yes, it’s possible! Just take a look at how a number of major American corporations have neatly shifted away from the "great and terrible" themes: climate change, diversity, inclusion, and so on. Because the boss doesn’t like them. The senior gave the order. And without further ado, an entire sector of the economy has become redundant in the U.S.

As for the victory over fascism — I wonder which world leaders will make their way to Moscow in May. Or, let’s frame it differently: who won’t go? It’s the 80th anniversary, after all. A round date! And there’s a little plus: the winds of change in Washington’s relationship with Moscow are picking up. Though the wind can be fickle, for now, it’s blowing toward Red Square.

Ski jumping is a very interesting sport, but it’s for enthusiasts. With Donald Trump’s arrival at the White House, everyone will have to jump from the trampoline to some degree. The key is to push off at the right time and catch the air current. Yes, Trump will be in power for 4 years, but no one can predict where the pendulum will swing afterwards. If his policies succeed, a successor to the trampoline’s legacy will take his place. And they will fly even further. Although Mr. Trump has already hinted that he might decide to lead the country again.

Who said the word "impossible"?