TR EMERITUS

I refer to the CNA’s Commentary: “Don't get distracted by Trump's outlandish Cabinet picks” (Nov 25), and “'No one will win a trade war’, China says after Trump tariff threat” (Nov 26).

As everyone knows, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will return to power on January 20, 2025.

Trump has dismissed quite a number of his former cabinet members and many top political appointees during his first term of 45th presidency. For examples, Secretary of State, Rex Wayne Tillerson resigned under pressure during the second year of Trump’s administration(13 Mar 2018), and Secretary of Defense, Jim Mattis resigned for protest also during the second year of Trump’s administration.

This fully shows that Trump is a president who is not easy to get along with. He has a weird, strange and unpredictable personality, with an elusive mind, and "doesn’t play his cards according to the usual rules".

On the other hand, Trump is indeed a shrewd, very calculating, and out-and-out businessman. All the decisions he makes are based on the premise of profit. He gave all his political opponents and many American voters the impression of never admitting defeat and never giving up.

In Trump’s second administration, he is prioritizing his loyalists for top jobs. Most of the cabinet members Trump 2.0 wants to appoint are from controversial backgrounds and have a distinctly hawkish stance.

For examples, Trump named Florida Senator Marco Rubio, to be Secretary of State. He is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran. Trump also named pro-tariff billionaire Scott Bessent for Treasury Secretary, Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been recruited by Trump to be director of national intelligence, Pete Hegseth has been tapped to be the Defense Secretary (he lacks senior military and national security experience), Pam Bondi has been named by Trump to be Attorney General, Trump also appoints Elise Stefanik to be the Ambassador to the United Nations (one of Trump's staunchest defenders during his first impeachment), Matthew Whitaker is named as Ambassador to NATO (Whitaker faced questions about his past business dealings, including his ties to an invention-promotion company that was accused of misleading consumers).

Looking at Trump's appointment alone, it is clear that he wants to carry out and accomplish the following tasks and deliver his presidential campaign promises in his second term presidency: -

A. On domestic issues

a) Trump will attack the mounting U.S. national debt and slash government programs and other spending.

b) Trump will adopt fiscal policy to facilitate the implementation of tightened and eased monetary policy so that to curb inflation, while also reducing financial stability risks issues (as according to Trading Economics.com annual inflation rate in the United States accelerated to 2.6% in October 2024, up from 2.4% in September)。

c) Trump has vowed to dismantle the liberal "deep state" and his political opponents and personal vendettas. For example, getting rid of “woke” generals/military personnel.

d) On Nov 18, U.S. time, U.S. President-elect Trump confirmed on social media platforms that he would mobilize U.S. troops to expel illegal immigrants from the United States by declaring a national emergency.

e) Trump wants to remove unnecessary regulatory measures and allow the U.S. economy to regain its vitality.

f) Trump emphasizes the need for deregulation of the high-tech sector. For example, Trump argues that Biden's Executive Order on the Safe and Secure Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence impedes the development of AI in the United States and it should be repealed.

g) Trump suggests that regulation of the crypto industry should be deregulated.

h) Trump is likely to use tax cuts to motivate people to create value.

i) Trump believes that the United States is rich in natural resources, so it should try to extract and use oil and gas to the fullest.

j) Trump believes that the current infrastructure in the United States is seriously aging and difficult to adapt to the needs of development, so he recommends large-scale infrastructure activities to modernize
American cities and infrastructure.

B. On foreign strategists and policies

a) Trump insists to Implement trade protectionist policies and impose high tariffs on imported goods.

For example, Trump pledges 25% tariffs on the United States’ three largest trading partners - Canada, Mexico and China.

b) On June 1, 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the Paris Agreement. The move made the United States one of three countries opposing global efforts to combat climate change, drawing strong condemnation from the international community. Would Trump do it again in his second term of presidency?

c) Trump's strategic competition with China, especially in the fields of human rights, security, economy, science and technology, as well as Taiwan issues are deserved great attention.

d) It will be interesting to see how Trump will effectively handle the peace talks of the Russia-Ukraine war and reach a ceasefire agreement to end this brutal three-year war.

e) How Trump responds to and handles the Israeli-Hamas and Israeli-Lebanese wars and ensures that the crisis of the Middle East conflict does not expand will be a great test of his wisdom.

for) Will Trump continue his "America First" policy of the past, focusing on nationalist foreign policy objectives while imposing political and economic pressure on most international adversaries, while strengthening ties with traditional allies? This is something we need to keep an eye on!

Trump's business model of closed trade and high tariffs will ultimately harm the interests of American consumers. The price of imported products from the global market will soar, which will undoubtedly affect the income of the middle and lower class people in the United States and further push up inflation. All in all, this is an unwise plan to harm others and not to benefit oneself, and in the end it will hurt both sides.

Therefore, Trump should consider how to cooperate with other countries in various fields to seek development and live in peace to create a win-win situation, rather than blindly adopting confrontation and containing the development of other countries.

Teo Kueh Liang (Mr)

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