Cover Story: Trump Sets the World on Edge (AI Translation)

【周刊提前读】深度：唯一超级大国重返丛林法则 世界迎接大洗牌

In a historic political comeback, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025, having previously served as the 45th President. At 78, he became the oldest president to assume office in U.S. history. This victory made him one of only two presidents to serve non-consecutive terms, the other being Cleveland in the 19th century. The inauguration took place under significant protests across the U.S., but Trump's approval ratings were reportedly higher than during his first term, according to a Wall Street Journal poll[para. 1][para. 2].

In his inauguration speech, Trump reiterated his view of the U.S. as a "declining nation" and labeled his victory as a mandate to counter the previous government's betrayals. He recalled a campaign incident where he survived an assassination attempt, attributing his survival to divine intervention, and claimed a mission to once again "Make America Great."[para. 3][para. 4]. The speech's latter section focused on his intended executive orders aiming to counter "wokeness" and emphasized a return to common sense, drawing enthusiastic support from his Republican base.[para. 5][para. 6]. Trump also reiterated foreign policy measures like reclaiming the Panama Canal and renaming the Gulf of Mexico, aspiring to be a peacemaker, particularly between Russia and Ukraine.[para. 7][para. 8].

After his speech, Trump immediately began implementing his policy agenda, signing 42 executive orders on his first day, covering immigration and energy and withdrawing from the World Health Organization and the Paris Agreement. Despite the ambitious rollout, some actions, like ending birthright citizenship, faced immediate legal challenges and are unlikely to be enforced.[para. 9][para. 11][para. 12]. Resembling his first term, Trump's presidency appears poised for controversy and challenges as he moves towards reshaping U.S. domestic and foreign policy.

Internationally, Trump's unexpected win has stirred concerns about a shift in the global post-war order, suggesting uncertainty, especially for U.S. allies in Europe and beyond. The administration's aggressive stance on tariffs against partners like Mexico and Canada exemplified such concerns, although economic growth under Biden was strong heading into Trump's term. Further, Trump’s approach has also included efforts to engage in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, although achieving significant diplomatic resolutions might remain complex given the entrenched positions.[para. 22][para. 24][para. 25][para. 45].

The broader implications for U.S. international relations, particularly with allies and adversaries, remain to be seen. Trump’s rhetoric and proposed policies have introduced particular anxiety in Europe but also hint at a potential recalibration anticipated under the so-called "Trump 2.0" era, with tech players like Elon Musk gaining significant influence in U.S. policy circles[para. 53][para. 54][para. 55]. Notably, this includes possible dialogues with China, a relationship marked by historical tension but also recent communication between Trump and Chinese leaders, suggesting a complex interplay of diplomatic and economic considerations moving forward[para. 83][para. 85][para. 86].