Divided opinions: Many are eagerly waiting for Trump’s return to the White House while others are bracing for the next four years. — AP/Reuters
AS Donald Trump prepares for his inauguration tomorrow to mark his return to the White House following a stunning political comeback last November, some are dreading the possible policies he’ll put in place in the next four years.
While those interviewed may not represent general sentiments in the United States, they expressed apprehension over laws or policies that could be discriminatory to minorities and strain the economy.
Dr Sathya Baanu Jeevanba, a Malaysian living in Kansas City, Missouri, says she is preparing to face a “more tense and emotionally draining” four years come Monday.
“I’m expecting more of the same xenophobic, transphobic and classist policies. I also see the cost of living going up because of the tariffs,” says the 34-year-old psychologist.
Having lived through Trump’s first administration, Sathya says his way of governing sows a lot of division and is based on inciting fear.
“That’s what it does to us collectively. Then again, none of this is new,” says Sathya, who is living in a blue city in a red state (Democrats are blue and the Republicans, Trump’s party, are red).
As an immigrant to the US, Sathya also points out that things are very uncertain for non-citizens under Trump’s administration.
During Trump’s first stint as president, immigration policies were a mainstay of the political discourse in the US.
Who can forget when Trump declared he would build a wall along the US-Mexico border and make Mexico pay for it?
This time, Trump has vowed even tougher immigration enforcement, including restarting workplace immigration raids.
Although Sathya acknowledges that she will not be the first type of immigrant to be targeted – as someone with legal documents who is married to an American citizen – ultimately, she is unsure what will happen in the future.
“Also, it’s awful to see immigrants and those who are vulnerable be vilified and blamed for all the ills of this country. It doesn’t feel safe,” she adds.
Thousands of miles away in Malaysia, Ian, an American citizen who declined to share his full name, shares similar worries as Sathya about the next four years.
He fears that Trump will set the country back 50 years socially.
“Some of it through direct policies targeting these groups and some through the continued stacking of right-leaning Justices on the Supreme Court.
“He promises to ‘Make America Great Again’, but for whom?
“I expect the only thing he will deliver is division, chaos and regression,” says the 49-year-old teacher, who has been living in Malaysia for the past one-and-a-half years.
He says Trump’s combative rhetoric and disregard for traditional norms will further erode trust in democratic institutions, making it harder for policymakers and citizens to find common ground.
Trump’s dismissive attitude towards traditional norms is clear even from the guest list of his upcoming inauguration day; the new president has directly invited foreign leaders to the event when traditionally, foreign leaders send diplomats in their stead due to security concerns.
Among his invitees are fellow strongman politicians Argen-tinian president Javier Milei, Hungary’s Viktor Orban, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Chinese president Xi Jinping, although not everyone has agreed to attend.
Ian says he expects Trump’s admiration for “autocratic leaders” around the world to affect the international standing of the US, among others.
“As an American abroad, I’m immune to much of Trump’s domestic agenda but I do fear that Trump’s erosion of American global standing and corresponding relationships with various countries will affect my ability to travel and live as freely as before,” he says.
But mainly, he says, he is worried for his friends and family back home.
“Most of my concerns revolve around his policies and how they will affect friends and family in the US, especially those in marginalised or vulnerable communities.”
On the other hand, 33-year-old Malaysian Foong I-Ven, who has lived in Phoenix, Arizona, for almost nine years, is not as concerned about Trump’s return to the White House.
Despite living in a deeply red state, Foong says he does not feel as alarmed about Trump rising into power again because he does not feel much direct effect from Trump’s policies from the first presidency.
As such, he is ambivalent about the upcoming inauguration day: “I know many people are worried about him becoming president again. But presidencies don’t really affect that much change in the four years, I feel.
“For sure there will be after effects, though,” he says.
However, Foong remains optimistic that his life will be largely unaffected this time as well.
“I don’t really go out much except for work anyway,” says the gym fitness instructor.
