EDITORIAL: The real winners of the Trump presidency

From dictators to billionaires to communicable diseases

As Donald Trump prepares for his second term in the White House, the question arises: who will truly benefit from his return to power? Throughout his first term, Trump’s rhetoric about “Making America Great Again” clearly resonated with a base of disillusioned Americans—particularly those left behind by globalization and rapid technological change. However, as his first term showed, the real winners of the Trump presidency were not the everyday Americans waving MAGA hats, but a powerful coalition of global authoritarian leaders, billionaires, industries, and media moguls who have been adept at harnessing Trump's rhetoric and policies for their own advantage. The stage is set for Trump to pull off this bait-and-switch again—perhaps to an even greater degree as he won’t have to face the voters again.

1. Authoritarian Regimes

Russian President Vladimir Putin's relationship with Trump was an outlier in U.S. foreign policy. Trump's often deferential stance towards Putin—from undermining U.S. intelligence agencies to praising Russian aggression—was a boon for Putin’s ambitions. With Trump in office, Russia faced little pushback on its actions in Ukraine, cyber-attacks, or disinformation campaigns. Now, with Trump’s second term, Putin’s influence in global politics may deepen, as Trump’s foreign policy continues to downplay Russian interference and military assertiveness.

Kim Jong Un of North Korea, too, is set to benefit from another term under Trump. The personal diplomacy and historic meetings between Trump and Kim, including Trump’s unprecedented steps into North Korea, presented a rare diplomatic win for the isolated regime. Despite the lack of tangible results, Trump’s soft diplomacy allowed Kim to maintain his nuclear program while strengthening his hold over North Korea.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu enjoyed Trump’s support, particularly with the move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. In the Middle East, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, implicated in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, also enjoyed Trump's favor. As Trump begins his second term, it is likely that his policies will continue to bolster authoritarian regimes worldwide, giving them the green light to further their repressive policies with little international pushback.

2. Fossil Fuel Industry and Climate Rollbacks

Under Trump’s first term, the fossil fuel industry thrived. His administration made it a priority to dismantle environmental protections, withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, and prioritize fossil fuel extraction over renewable energy. As Trump moves into his second term, it’s likely that these industries will continue to benefit, with further deregulation and an increase in drilling on public lands. The oil, gas, and coal sectors will continue to see policies that favor their bottom lines, even as the rest of the world moves toward sustainability.

3. Weapons Manufacturers and the Military-Industrial Complex

Trump’s defense policies, characterized by massive military spending, gave a substantial boost to the military-industrial complex. While Trump often claimed to be an anti-interventionist president, his budgetary increases—along with massive arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE—served the interests of defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Raytheon. Under his second term, the military budget will likely continue to balloon, ensuring that weapons manufacturers remain some of the biggest beneficiaries of Trump’s policies.

4. Supreme Court and Conservative Social Policies

Trump’s lasting legacy in the judicial system is his appointment of three Supreme Court justices, creating a 6-3 conservative majority. This shift has already paved the way for the rollback of reproductive rights, restrictions on voting access, and the growth of religious-based exemptions from anti-discrimination laws. In his second term, Trump will continue to appoint conservative judges to the federal courts, ensuring that his judicial legacy will continue to reshape American law for decades to come.

5. Anti-Science Rhetoric and Public Health

Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated a disregard for scientific expertise, and his second term promises to further entrench this anti-science stance. With the potential selection of figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Trump’s second term could see an even greater undermining of scientific consensus, delaying vital public health measures and fostering a climate of misinformation about communicable diseases.

6. Right-Wing Media and Conspiracy Theories

Right-wing media outlets, including Fox News, OANN, and Newsmax, have flourished under Trump, amplifying conspiracy theories and disinformation. Trump's direct engagement with figures like Tucker Carlson and his endorsement of fringe ideas allowed these media channels to thrive. With a second term, right-wing media will continue to benefit from Trump’s backing, reinforcing the cycle of misinformation that has become a cornerstone of his presidency.

So now what?

As Trump embarks on his second term, the winners will be those with power, wealth, and influence. Global autocrats, military contractors, fossil fuel companies, and conservative media outlets will continue to profit from his administration, while everyday Americans, particularly those in rural and industrial regions, will see little tangible benefit. Trump's presidency has always been about aligning policies with the interests of the powerful few, not the many. A second term will likely cement this trend, as Trump's policies further entrench the structural inequalities that benefit the elite, leaving the working class and marginalized communities to bear the brunt of his decisions. The promise of “Making America Great Again” was never truly about lifting up the forgotten masses, but about consolidating wealth and power for those who already had it.