Trump 2 Pro Max

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The pageantry of the American transition of power is captivating. It is easier to appreciate it this year because, barring a frigid spell that forced the inaugural ceremony indoors, there were fewer disruptions. There was no storming of the Capitol on January 6. There were no public displays of anxiety by women and minorities as we saw in 2017. Donald Trump won this election decisively, unlike in 2016, which many viewed as a one-time fluke. Much of the credit goes to Susie Wiles, Trump's 2024 campaign manager and now the first female chief of staff, who has run an admirably tight ship. This professionalism is evident in the smooth choreography of issuing over 200 executive actions on day one. Please do not take this as an endorsement of the content of those orders. There are simply too many to properly assess from a distance, and some are highly polarising. What stands out is the seamless execution of the early steps compared to the chaotic start of eight years ago.

While appreciating the transition's pageantry, it is important not to compare it with royal transitions or those in countries without term limits. The Japanese and British royal ceremonies are indeed sights to behold, but how often do they occur? Similarly, in countries like Russia, China, and even India, the pomp and grandeur may be imposing, but these events cannot compare since actual power transitions happen far less frequently.

The inaugural ceremony itself was eye-catching, a dance of style and substance, but the newly sworn-in president's energy eclipsed everything else. This was reportedly the longest inaugural address delivered by any US president. But that's not all. Even the day before, President Trump gave a lengthy speech to supporters at Capital One Arena, where Elon Musk and other members of the Village People joined him on stage momentarily. Within 24 hours, he delivered his first speech, followed by a thirty-minute inaugural address, then another address, and yet another appearance at the Arena. He also attended several inaugural balls with his beautiful family. When he finally arrived at the Oval Office, he signed those executive orders while answering questions from the press. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: if I can have this much mental agility and energy at the age of seventy-eight, I will count myself among the luckiest people alive. Just being alive at that age is a challenge for ordinary souls like us. This energy is all the more striking when contrasted with the visible health challenges of his predecessor. While blessed with a good heart and a force for good, President Biden struggled to conceal his physical decline toward the end of his term. During Trump's inauguration speech, when he replaced "American carnage" with "American decline", many speculated it was a subtle jab at his predecessor's health.

As mentioned earlier, thanks to a team of seasoned professionals, President Trump has not just hit the ground running but made remarkable strides within his first three days. On his first full day (day two), he joined Oracle's Larry Ellison, SoftBank's Masayoshi Son, and OpenAI's Sam Altman to announce a $500 billion investment in AI infrastructure across America, dubbed "Project Stargate". We saw glimpses of this deal-making approach soon after his November victory, when Masayoshi Son appeared with Trump at a press conference and announced plans to invest $100 billion in the US. Live on air, Trump urged him to double that pledge to $200 billion. Similarly, during his first media interaction in the Oval Office, when asked which country he would visit first, Trump noted that tradition often dictates the UK. However, he recalled how, during his first term, he visited Saudi Arabia first because of their $450 billion pledge to buy US goods and services. This time, he suggested he might go there again - provided they adjusted their investment for inflation. Within 48 hours, the Saudis announced a $600 billion investment over the next four years. When combined with Project Stargate, the new administration secured $1.1 trillion in investment commitments within its first three days. Not too shabby, right? And yet, Trump wasn't satisfied. Speaking at the World Economic Forum, he urged the Saudis to round their commitment to $1 trillion and challenged other nations to manufacture in America or face tariffs. Whether these tariff threats will hold or be sidestepped remains to be seen, but there is clear anticipation of a manufacturing boom - a cornerstone of both Trump's campaigns.

Before his return to power, the US Supreme Court had already granted the presidency virtually limitless immunity. Trump not only won seven swing states and made inroads in Democratic strongholds like New York and California, but he also won the popular vote and both chambers of Congress. You might call this term Trump 2 Pro Max. While this nickname is often used online to refer to his youngest son - who stands an impressive 6 feet 7 inches tall - an entirely new expression may be needed for the young man.

On day three, flanked by David Sachs, President Trump signed additional executive orders, including two aimed at making America the global capital of AI and cryptocurrency. He also ordered the declassification of investigation files on the assassinations of JFK, RFK, and MLK Jr - a move already making waves online.

Despite this power, the 47th president faces some resistance in confirming his cabinet members. So far, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe have been confirmed, both experienced policy hands who faced little opposition.

Among the incredible statements made by President Trump at Davos was his desire to rid the world of nuclear weapons. Imagine, after years of nuclear sabre-rattling, any progress in this direction. How much safer would humanity feel?

He has said on record that he would like to meet the presidents of China and Russia soon. He also asked the Saudis to help convince OPEC to bring down the oil prices because to him lower oil prices would result in an instantaneous end to the Ukraine war.

There is much that is unsettled in American culture wars. Will one side's decisive victory make these differences go away? It is hard to say. But with the wholesale decline of legacy media and whatever Elon and other tech billionaires are doing in the name of free speech, these differences will take a while to resurface. And despite these hot button topics it is evident that Trump has learned significantly from his first term in office and has a lot of value to add.