Donald Trump 2.0: Anything for India to worry about?

As Donald Trump is sworn in as the President of the United States once again, the world views this event with a mix of hope and concern. Having overcome impeachments, two assassination attempts, and criminal charges, Trump appears to be assuming office with a more assertive stance.

With the Republican Party holding a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, Trump will have greater authority, which will reflect in his decisions. He is generally considered an unpredictable political leader. However, he has managed to create an impression that he is not particularly inclined toward wars. His influence was evident in the ceasefire in Gaza, and his efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war might also see success. Given that Trump does not have significant opposition, a war-weary Russia may be more willing to comply with his policies.

Trump has returned to power with the slogan of making America great again. He convinced voters that the U.S. was in danger, securing a lead of five million votes. As he received votes from all demographic groups, there will be no further attempts to establish white dominance in America. Trump is now responsible for protecting the interests of Black Americans, Hispanic communities, and other minorities.

India is one of the countries that views Trump’s re-election with the most optimism. Considering the U.S.'s disinterest in China and the ongoing India-China tensions, diplomatic experts predict that Trump will focus more on India in Asia. While concerns persist regarding H-1B visas among Indians, differences within the Republican Party might work in India's favor.

Elon Musk, who plays a key role in the efficiency department, supports increasing the number of skilled worker visas and attracting more technically proficient individuals to the U.S. His stance could be beneficial for Indians. Although Trump has criticized India for its lack of cooperation in trade matters, his decision to impose higher tariffs on imports from China and Canada might indirectly benefit India.

With China's introduction of AI Deepseek, the U.S. faces a significant challenge in the technological and industrial sectors. As America counters China's advancements, India is likely to gain strategic importance. Moreover, discussions between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump are expected to strengthen India-U.S. relations further.

Trump's promise to eradicate terrorism and extremism could serve as a warning to anti-India terror groups operating in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Additionally, sanctions have already been imposed on Bangladesh. The presence of Indian-origin figures such as J.D. Vance, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Kash Patel in Trump's core team is expected to be advantageous for India.

To curb terrorism, Trump has also imposed restrictions on individuals from Syria, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, and Muslim refugees. The executive orders signed by Trump immediately after assuming office have already sparked debates and controversies both in the U.S. and globally.

Domestically, Trump has declared an emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border to curb illegal immigration, initiated border wall construction, imposed tariffs on foreign goods (up to 60% on Chinese products and 25% on Canadian and Mexican goods), removed industrial regulations, and revoked the law promoting electric vehicles introduced by Joe Biden.

Beyond domestic affairs, several of Trump's decisions will have international repercussions. These include revoking birthright citizenship, implementing policies against transgender individuals, deporting undocumented immigrants, withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, increasing fossil fuel production, declaring the Gulf of Mexico as American waters, and planning to leave the World Health Organization. These actions are expected to cause significant concerns and humanitarian challenges worldwide.

Following Trump's decision to revoke birthright citizenship, 22 U.S. states have legally challenged the move, citing constitutional violations. The Indian-American community in the U.S. is also protesting the decision, with several organizations taking legal action.

After being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, Trump declared that he would make the U.S. stronger and wealthier and that America's strength would bring an end to all wars. If Trump succeeds in upholding democracy, human rights, and peace while making America a model nation, it would be beneficial for the world as well.

(The author is former president of FOKANA and the founding president of NAMAM (USA).)