By Qamar Bashir
On this historic morning, our family in Macomb, Michigan, woke up early to witness one of the most significant ceremonies in American history—the transfer of power from a conventional and predictable leader to a new President who embraces unpredictability as his greatest strength. Ambitious, aggressive, and forceful, he has declared a firm commitment to ‘Make America Great Again’ and has promised the dawn of a new golden era for the United States.
During his inauguration as the 47th President, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation as Americans looked toward a future filled with promise and transformation.
While the citizens of the United States celebrated a vision of renewed prosperity, strength, and exceptionalism, the world observed with a mix of hope and uncertainty, bracing for an era defined by bold changes and dynamic leadership—a quality the new President proudly proclaimed as his defining asset.
In his inaugural speech, the President outlined an ambitious policy roadmap aimed at
restoring common sense, revitalizing national security, and reasserting American
leadership on the global stage. His vision promised bold reforms across multiple
domains, emphasizing national sovereignty, economic revival, military supremacy, and a
return to foundational values.
The next important executive order he promised was to reclaim the Panama Canal,
arguing that it was built by Americans at the cost of 38,000 lives and billions of dollars.
He asserted that American ships are unfairly overcharged while passing through the
canal. Strengthening his case, he claimed that the U.S. originally handed the canal over to
Panama, but it later fell under Chinese influence. However, historical records show that
the U.S. transferred control to Panama in 1999 under the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. This
decision carries profound geopolitical consequences, as reactions from Panama, its
people, its diaspora in the U.S., and global stakeholders will shape the future of this
potentially volatile and diplomatically sensitive move.
In a striking geopolitical move, he proposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of
Florida, symbolizing America’s renewed dominance in its own hemisphere knowing very
well that renaming “Gulf of Mexico”, “Gulf of America” would be a highly provocative
move with serious geopolitical risks. It could strain diplomatic relations with Mexico and
Latin American nations, who may view it as an act of territorial assertiveness or
revisionism. The move may fuel anti-American sentiment in the region, strengthening
alliances between Latin American countries and U.S. adversaries like China and Russia.
Internationally, it would face legal challenges and resistance from global maritime
organizations, undermining U.S. diplomatic credibility.
At the outset he vowed to pass executive order to declare a national emergency at the
southern border. The southern border has become a vital national security concern for
the United States as overtime it becomes a major conduit and hotspot for illegal
immigration, drug trafficking, and cross-border crime. While declaring national
emergency, he emphasized using all national resources to curb unauthorized migration
and illicit trade.
He said he will sign an executive order to deport millions and millions of illegal
immigrants by putting an end to the controversial "Catch and Release" policy, ensuring
that those who enter illegally face swift legal consequences. A key policy move includes
the designation of cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, signifying a no-tolerance
approach to organized crime and cross-border drug trafficking. He vowed that the Alien
Act will be enforced fully, ensuring that foreign criminals and gang members are swiftly
removed from the country.
The President addressed record inflation and rising costs, attributing them to reckless
government overspending and poor energy policies. He announced a two-pronged
strategy to curb government waste and reduce inflation. As part of this plan, he
announced the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency to eliminate
bureaucratic waste and ensure taxpayer money is spent wisely.
To bring inflation down and make goods and services more affordable, he announced
harnessing the nation’s abundant oil and gas reserves. Declaring that the U.S. is sitting
on "liquid gold," he vowed to launch the largest drilling initiative under the slogan "Drill,
Baby, Drill!". Additionally, he pledged to lower taxes on Americans while imposing
hefty tariffs on foreign imports, asserting that this approach would generate
unprecedented wealth and economic prosperity for the nation.
He declared that the Green New Deal would be revoked and the combustion engine
revived, ensuring that Americans have the freedom to purchase cars of their choice
without government-imposed restrictions. He promised that the U.S. would produce high-
performance cars with unprecedented speed, emphasizing that lower energy and fuel
prices, along with an increased supply of domestically manufactured vehicles, would
allow Americans to drive locally made cars powered by domestically drilled oil and
gas—ultimately leading to a higher standard of living.
The President vowed to immediately end all censorship, restoring free speech as a
fundamental American right. He declared that state power will never again be
weaponized against political opponents, ensuring that the government remains
accountable to the people.
The President committed to rebuilding the U.S. Armed Forces, ensuring they focus solely
on their primary mission—defeating America’s enemies. He emphasized that military
success would no longer be measured by the number of battles won but by the conflicts
America successfully avoids.
The President spoke of an ambitious national vision, highlighting America’s pioneering
spirit in industry, innovation, and space exploration. He envisioned a growing nation,
expanding its wealth and influence while venturing beyond Earth, with a specific mission
to establish a U.S. astronaut colony on Mars.
The President's speech however skipped three most sticking points which he has been
announcing during his pre-inauguration period, declaring Canada as 51st State of the
United States, taking control of Greenland and banning Tiktok.
The President has announced sweeping national and international policy decisions on his
first day in office—ambitious, bold, and unconventional—directly challenging power
centers within the U.S. and increasingly independent international stakeholders. Whether
these lofty announcements will materialize depends heavily on the response of the ‘deep
state’—the entrenched but powerful institutions within the U.S.—as well as global actors
who, unlike in the past, have grown more assertive, economically resilient, and politically
independent of American influence. Many of these international stakeholders have
established their own power structures, which now rival the U.S. in effectiveness and
influence, making the path to implementing these policies fraught with significant
geopolitical challenges.