By International relations analyst Dr. Yaw Gebeh has provided a detailed analysis of the potential challenges and key issues former President Donald Trump may face as he begins a second term in the White House, following his victory in the U.S. presidential election on Wednesday, November 6.
This victory marks a remarkable comeback for Trump, who served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021 but lost his re-election bid to Joe Biden in 2020.
In an interview with Bernard Avle on the Citi Breakfast Show on November 6, Dr. Gebeh identified several major challenges Trump is likely to face, especially in light of the evolving global dynamics.
Dr. Gebeh pointed out that one key issue will be policy continuity. He highlighted that Trump’s “America First” doctrine, which heavily influenced his initial foreign policy, emphasized national sovereignty and a move away from multilateral agreements.
This approach often strained relations between the U.S. and its allies.
Dr. Gebeh suggested that reinstating this doctrine could encounter challenges due to shifts in global politics since Trump’s first term, making it more difficult for him to reassert U.S. influence on his own terms.
“There are a whole lot of issues that one must consider. First of all, the issue of continuity and I think Donald Trump has already addressed those issues. Making America Great Again and putting America first were the exact issues he was pursuing in his first tenure in office and I do not expect Trump to move away from his doctrines.
“I am a bit concerned because this is a new era and a lot of changes have happened or occurred in the international system and I don’t know how he is going to take it.
Dr. Gebeh also highlighted Trump’s legal issues as a major and unprecedented challenge that could impact his ability to govern effectively.
“Secondly, the issue of indictment. There are so many cases that he is battling with at the courts in the United States and he will be running the White House alongside those other concerns.
“Thirdly, membership of international institutions and organisations. It is Donald Trump who attacked NATO, the United Nations, his dealings in the Middle East, dealings with China and dealing with his neighbours in Latin America. These are issues that Donald Trump cannot run away from. Is he going to use the same yardstick in approaching these issues or we will see a different Donald Trump?”
The former president is currently embroiled in several legal battles, including both civil and criminal cases, covering a range of issues from allegations of business misconduct to charges related to his actions after the 2020 election.
