In the ever-entertaining world of politics, it seems that some bumper car rides are more thrilling than others. Particularly when the driver is none other than Donald Trump, the man who managed to turn a real estate empire into a reality TV sensation and then—just for kicks—moved into the White House. Whether one is a fan of his antics or wishes he’d invest in a remote island far from the political stage, it’s hard to ignore some of the elephant-sized impacts he’s had.
Most notably, Trump’s attempt to play Peacemaker of the Year with the complex puzzle that is the Middle East deserves a nod. Any time a sitting U.S. president manages to broker a deal between Israel and Gaza, it’s akin to scratching a decade-old itch. While some might find such efforts as likely as finding unicorns frolicking on Wall Street, the fact remains that the initiative was a bold move—one that even critics had to acknowledge with a grudging tip of the hat. Of course, this is Trump, so no discussion is without the drama of potential next season cliffhangers, but at least he thought outside the sandbox.
Meanwhile, on the home front, Trump’s rhetoric about Venezuela raised more than a few eyebrows—and perhaps a couple of international sighs. Though he did not take military action, calling it a police action might be an exercise in semantics, but hey, when you’ve got the world’s largest sandbox to play in, why not fling some sand around? With Nicholas Maduro briefly playing the villain in this geopolitical game, perhaps Trump’s version of justice was more reminiscent of a blockbuster than actual policy.
On another note, the discussion surrounding foreign student visas certainly stirred the pot. The Trump administration’s measures to restrict visas for Chinese students might seem as expected, given his vocal stance on China. This visa restriction was one of many actions in the wider context of tariff wars and tweets, raising the question of whether the U.S. wanted fewer stamps in the intellectual passport or simply fewer seats filled in university lecture halls.
And finally, we can’t ignore the southern border, which, under Trump’s reign, was fortified with gusto. Some hailed it as one of his shining achievements, a great wall (though not quite of the mythical, Mongolian-invader-deterring variety). It’s curious, though, how such a significant step could simply slide out of the media’s gaze. Perhaps it’s a case of out-of-sight, out-of-mind—or maybe some topics are just yawn-inducing once the headlines move on to the next sensational soundbite.
In the theatrical grandstand that is modern politics, Trump certainly played to his strengths—dramatic, decisive, and occasionally divisive. Whether you admire the man or not, his legacy will likely continue to be a hot topic at dinner tables and within political circles. In the meantime, one can sit back and watch the ongoing spectacle, ever-ready for the next act in this wild show.
