Trump Expands Executive Power Amid Domestic Unrest and Global Trade Wars

President Donald Trump began his second term by implementing a disruptive governance model that prioritizes speed and executive pressure over traditional diplomacy. He has aggressively used reciprocal tariffs to correct trade imbalances and coerce foreign investment, which the administration claims has generated 9.6 trillion USD in investment announcements. Internationally, Trump shifted toward a rapprochement with Russia, creating a Moscow-Washington axis that strained NATO relations, while pursuing a trade war with China and military actions in Iran, Venezuela, and Nigeria.

Domestically, the administration focused on a systemic purge of the federal bureaucracy. Under the direction of Russell Vought and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, the government removed over 300,000 civil servants. Simultaneously, the administration executed high-visibility immigration raids and imposed a 100,000 USD fee on H-1B visa applications. These actions, combined with rising food prices and the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies, contributed to a decline in Trump's approval rating to an average of 38%, sparking "No Kings" protests.

As the administration enters 2026, it faces critical legal and political hurdles. The Supreme Court of the United States is expected to rule on the constitutionality of birthright citizenship and reciprocal tariffs. Meanwhile, Trump is preparing for a summit with President Xi Jinping in April and navigating a political landscape where Democrats seek to reclaim a congressional chamber in the November midterm elections to limit his legislative agenda.