Trump's Second Term: Steering America Deeper into Perpetual Conflicts?
By: M. Sharifi
Donald Trump; after a four-year interregnum; has reclaimed the presidency of the United States; but this time he is embroiled in two ongoing wars; each draining national resources and eroding global credibility. Trump’s return to office places him squarely at the helm of these wars: one; a grueling three-year confrontation between Ukraine and Russia; and the other; the US-backed genocide in Gaza; which has witnessed the open complicity of Washington through its unwavering support for the Israeli regime.
Under Biden’s leadership; the US became not merely a passive observer but a decisive actor in these wars; the former a protracted war of attrition and the latter a systematic destruction of an entire population. Trump's position; inheriting these wars; reveals much about the continuity in US foreign policy; even if his rhetoric promises stark divergence.
While some analysts assert that Trump’s erratic behavior renders predictions of his policy impossible; others believe that there will be little deviation from the entrenched geopolitical doctrines of Washington; despite the changing faces in the Oval Office. What remains to be seen is whether Trump will indeed alter the course of these wars; or whether his administration will perpetuate the same bloody status quo.
Trump has been vocal in his criticisms of Biden’s handling of both conflicts; particularly the war in Ukraine; which he claims he could have ended swiftly had he remained in power. He has branded Biden’s foreign policy a catastrophic failure; asserting that the invasion of Ukraine would never have occurred under his watch. On Gaza; Trump has similarly positioned himself as a peacemaker; although his "peace" is framed in the language of triumphalism. He lauded the ceasefire agreement in Gaza; branding it a “Hamas” accord; and suggested that his electoral victory was the true catalyst for the peace process; a message couched in the rhetoric of American exceptionalism and military dominance.
It is worth recalling that during his first term; Trump refrained from launching new military interventions—a fact he took great pride in. Nevertheless; his administration was far from pacifist; embracing a policy of maximum pressure; notably withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal and orchestrating the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani; a move that nearly sparked a wider regional war.
Despite the occasional mention of diplomacy; Trump’s worldview is steeped in the language of militarism. His claim during his inauguration—"We will build the strongest military the world has ever seen so that we can not only win all wars but also not get into wars"—is telling. For Trump; peace is not the fruit of dialogue or compromise but of unparalleled military might; a doctrine that echoes the imperial hubris of previous administrations. His rhetoric betrays a man who views diplomacy as a secondary tool and conflict as an unfortunate; though often inevitable; result of foreign policy failure.
In this light; it becomes increasingly difficult to assess Trump as either a warmonger or a pacifist. His policies; whether during his first term or as he embarks on his second; reflect a fundamentally militarized understanding of international relations. His administration is unlikely to forge any genuine peace—certainly not through diplomacy. Rather; it will likely continue the reckless cycles of aggression; upholding America’s sinister hegemony through force and coercion rather than negotiation.
As Trump takes the reins once more; the grim reality is that the wars of the Biden era are unlikely to see an end. Instead; Trump will inherit these conflicts not to resolve them; but to perpetuate them in pursuit of an illusionary peace based on unassailable power. His return to office signals not a retreat from war; but a continuation of America’s ever-expanding military footprint across the globe. The only certainty is that the American people and the world will pay the price.
