Donald Trump is returning; he wants to bring about major changes in the USA. But despite his electoral success, his power also has limits, says Rahul Sahgal, head of the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce.
In the future, Donald Trump will be the ruler of the White House again, and there is uncertainty and concern not only in Germany and Europe. Because the Republican has far-reaching plans for the United States, the worst fears extend to its conversion into an autocracy.
What are Donald Trump’s actual intentions? What obstacles does the next US president have to expect? What mistakes do Germans and Europeans keep making when dealing with America? Rahul Sahgal, USA expert and CEO of the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce, answers these questions in an interview.
t-online: Mr. Sahgal, Donald Trump is about to return to power thanks to a clear election victory. Is the USA in danger of saying goodbye to liberal democracy?
Rahul Sahgal: The USA will certainly be a different country after four more years of Donald Trump. Which doesn’t necessarily mean that they will no longer be a democratic or liberal state. We often look at the United States with a very European perspective and apply our standards to it. And that is a huge mistake because we ignore what the Americans themselves want.
The majority of Americans clearly wanted Trump: he won by far the most electoral votes, the majority in both chambers of parliament and also the majority of votes. No other Republican candidate for the White House has achieved the latter since George W. Bush in 2004. So the decision is pretty clear. Trump feels confirmed to continue his course.
This course, as well as the selection of his new government team from colorful to ultra-right hardliners, gives plenty of reason for concern?
Agreed. That’s a risk. It depends on how much impact they can make. Trump is pursuing a decidedly conservative agenda; it was the same in his first term and will be the same in his second. What is this agenda? On the one hand, there should be less regulation, i.e. less government intervention and fewer regulations in all areas. On the other hand, Trump pursues a conservatism of values when it comes to gender issues and religion, for example.
Rahul Sahgalborn in 1977, is CEO of the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce. After studying business administration and law, Sahgal was, among other things, part of the Swiss diplomatic corps. From 2017 to 2021 he worked as embassy counselor and head of the finance and tax department at the Swiss embassy in Washington.
Does Trump even have values? He has a criminal record, agitates against minorities, and insults and insults his political opponents.
That’s right. And unacceptable to me. However, we must separate the campaign noise and the government program. During Trump’s first term starting in 2017, I worked at the Swiss Embassy in Washington, DC. His advisors at the time always advised us not to pay too much attention to his tweets. They were intended for his followers, nothing else. Trump is said to be much more reserved in his personal interactions than in public.
There is no apparent “restraint” on Trump’s part when it comes to the planned mass deportations of people without valid immigration documents.
This is one of Trump’s big campaign promises. However, more people were deported under Obama than under Trump 1.0. At this point I must also point out that Trump was not only successful in the election with traditional Republican voters, but Latinos and African Americans also voted for him to a considerable extent. These minorities are considered traditional Democratic voters. Apparently, these people felt that Trump represented their interests better, despite his comments. The USA has a different political culture than the Europeans, and it will now be shaped by Donald Trump for four more years.
What are Trump’s goals?
Power will flow back to the states and more emphasis will be placed on individual responsibility. This is a classic conservative agenda that now has the chance to be realized.
In the end, doesn’t Trump perhaps want to concentrate power on himself and become a kind of dictator?
That would be difficult for him, even if he wanted to. I have confidence in the Supreme Court and the US Congress. They won’t let Trump get away with anything. Most people in these institutions know that separation of powers is very, very important to the existence of the United States.
