WASHINGTON – President Trump began his second term with clarity, conviction, and a checklist. Two major goals defined his agenda. First—fulfill what he calls the “unfinished business” of his first term: advancing the America First doctrine, pushing through long-promised conservative reforms, reducing the size and scope of federal government, cutting taxes permanently, and overhauling the U.S. immigration system. Second—reshape America’s global standing into one defined not by soft diplomacy, but by strength, boldness, and direct action.
Since returning to the White House on January 20, 2025, Trump has governed with the full weight of experience and none of the hesitation. Gone is the learning curve of his outsider first term. This time, he knows the bureaucracy. He knows which agencies matter, which bureaucrats stall progress, and how to work around Congress using executive authority, agency rule-making, and the regulatory machinery that he now bends to his will. With a unified Republican Congress and a reliably conservative Supreme Court, Trump is not just governing—he’s dominating.
And what’s striking is how quickly he has delivered. In just half a year, he has reminded America of what his brand of leadership looks like. The politics of sensitivity, of DEI slogans and speech codes, have been swept aside—no more triple-checking every word for political correctness. Trump has created a space for Americans who felt stifled under the performative culture wars of the past few years. To his supporters, he has brought back unapologetic patriotism, where America doesn’t explain itself, but asserts itself.
He’s not simply reversing the past four years; he’s replacing them with an alternate vision of American strength. He often speaks of an America he grew up in—proud, tough, independent—and that’s the blueprint he’s working from. For Trump, the period after his first term felt like watching a great nation lose its voice and its edge. Now, he’s restoring both, and doing so with the urgency of someone who believes history has given him one last chance.
In foreign affairs, the Trump Doctrine has become even more pronounced. His approach is simple: strength leads to peace. He was tested early in his second term by the sudden eruption of war between Israel and Iran. The world expected a long-drawn proxy war or U.S. indecision. Instead, Trump stunned even his critics by authorizing targeted strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran, ending the conflict before it could spiral. It was shock-and-awe diplomacy with zero ambiguity. No coalition-building. No red lines crossed slowly—just decisive action.
That wasn’t an isolated case. Behind closed doors, his administration maneuvered to ask Pakistan to stop retaliatory action against India, asking Islamabad to call India and end any further escalation. Instead of playing mediator, Trump played power-broker. His team made it clear: continued instability would come with consequences. The tone from Islamabad changed overnight. Similarly, his effort to end the war in Ukraine has taken a blunt path. He publicly called out both Putin and Zelenskyy, refusing to play favorites and pushing them toward a negotiated end. Where previous administrations tried to tiptoe, Trump has stomped forward.
But Trump’s global vision doesn’t end at resolving wars. He is methodically dismantling what he sees as unnecessary entanglements—mini-multilateral pacts, regional security clubs, and economic arrangements that dilute U.S. sovereignty. He ordered a full review of AUKUS, casting doubt on its utility. He’s put international organizations on notice: they don’t set America’s agenda. And, in a moment that symbolized how far the world has shifted, NATO’s own chief reportedly referred to him as “Daddy”—a viral, perhaps tongue-in-cheek endorsement from an alliance that once mocked him. Trump has transitioned from disruptor to dominant force.
Economically, he’s waging a full-scale war for American supremacy. The tariff strategy that once drew bipartisan concern has now become a centerpiece of his trade policy. And it’s working. Countries are returning to the table with offers that favor the U.S. Trump has made it clear that America is not in the business of equalizing global markets—it’s in the business of winning. Trade partners who once relied on American leniency now find themselves negotiating with a leader who doesn’t blink. These are not just trade deals—they are declarations of American leverage.
Trump doesn’t seem to care how the rest of the world views him. That, ironically, may be why his brand of leadership resonates so deeply with many Americans. They’ve watched past presidents, especially Barack Obama, be applauded on the international stage, only to preside over policies that seemed to undermine American power. Obama’s “leading from behind” left a vacuum that others rushed to fill. Trump is the backlash to that era. His operation “Midnight Hammer,” as it’s been dubbed, was a demonstration of stealth, speed, and force meant to remind allies and enemies alike: America still leads—when it wants to.
There is also something historic about what Trump is doing. Very few leaders, especially in democracies, return to power with this much command over the political system and narrative. He is not coasting on nostalgia. He is recalibrating the machinery of state. In a way, Trump isn’t just finishing what he started—he’s rebuilding the executive branch in his image: fast-moving, centrally directed, and unapologetically results-oriented.
Of course, the next big test looms. Trump has 15 more months to cement his agenda. But if the Republican Party loses the House and Senate in the 2026 midterms, Trump will have to pivot. Will he be able to maintain momentum without a friendly Congress? Can he sustain the aggressive pace of reform through executive action alone? Or will we see the return of bureaucratic gridlock and legislative obstruction?
What’s clear for now is this: Donald Trump is not a figure of the past. He’s not a relic of 2016. He is the dominant political force of this era, reshaping the nation from within and without. Critics may recoil at his rhetoric, mock his style, or warn of the disruption he may cause. But they cannot ignore the results. Trump governs like a man who believes history is watching—and that this time, it will not forget.
As the world looks to Washington, it sees one figure standing tall. Call him Daddy.
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma is a Senior Journalist who has lived in Washington DC since 2007. He currently is a contributor to Dainik Bhaskar, the world's third largest newspaper by readership. His opinion pieces feature on News 9 and The Quint. He has been invited as guest on the BBC, NDTV, India Today, AajTak, Times Now, Republic, Zee news and others. His work has featured in six Indian Languages.
