Very few people (other than Donald Trump himself, perhaps) would describe Donald Trump as an intellectual thinker. He is more someone who likes to make decisions and take actions based on his own quick judgements of any given situation.
As such, there is no set definition of Trumpism, yet here in the summer of 2024, Trumpism appears to be not just movement but—for all intents and purposes—a political party.
Strongly loyal to Trump the man, this movement has its thinkers. They aim to exploit the opportunity another Trump presidency would give them to recast America back to something more closely resembling society half a century ago.
Domestically, the role of the traditional, nuclear, heterosexual family—husband, wife, children—would be reaffirmed and strengthened, promoted by Christian evangelicals.
Others would promote an industrial American economy of private manufacturing and industrial operations, returning to the United States jobs from abroad, most notably China, thereby increasing employment and wages at home.
In parallel, addressing worries of a shrinking American middle-class, Trump and the Republicans plan to slam the brakes on migration and eject immigrants who are employed. This, they believe, would raise the wages of American citizens.
Foreign policy fundaments
Looking beyond the walls, Trump’s natural emphasis is on ‘peace through strength,’ i.e. having the military and economic power to deter potential enemies. He is not seen as keen on foreign entanglements or mutual defence pacts.
Yet Richard Goldberg, who sat on the White House National Security Council during Trump’s first term, told Fox News last month that observers should not mistake Trump’s populist rhetoric with isolationism or an unwillingness to use force.
Iran, he reminded viewers, had tested Trump, and as a result, legendary Iranian Quds Force General Qassem Suleimani was killed in an American drone strike in Iraq on Trump’s orders.
Listen to Trump at campaign rallies, or to the advisors who have worked with him for years, and it soon becomes clear that China is the top threat to American national security as Trump sees it.
