‏**Trump: A Man of Power, Not a Statesman**

‏By: Eman Altahan

‏I do not see Donald Trump as a statesman, but rather as a businessman who treats power as a personal venture, serving only those who bring him profit or bolster his image among his supporters. From his first appearance on the political stage, he lacked a clear agenda or strategic vision to serve the American state. Instead, he was driven by an obsession with power and building a political brand that secured personal influence and financial gains—even after leaving the White House.

‏**A President Without Principles… Decisions for Personal Gain**

‏Trump is not the first populist president in American history, but he is certainly one of the most opportunistic. Upon taking office, he promised to “make America great again,” but his definition of greatness had nothing to do with institutions or democracy—only the glorification of his name and the expansion of his influence. His economic decisions, such as cutting taxes for the wealthy, were mere favors to the business elite he belongs to. His immigration policies were not about national security but about rallying white voters fearful of demographic change. Even his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic was catastrophic, as he treated it as a media crisis threatening his image rather than a pandemic endangering millions of lives.

‏**Ambiguous Foreign Policy… Alliances Based on Whim**

‏His foreign policy was not rooted in America’s interests but in personal alliances. He withdrew from major international agreements not because he had better alternatives, but simply to dismantle his predecessors’ achievements. His closeness to authoritarian regimes did not serve American interests; rather, he saw in them a model of the absolute power he craved for himself. He sought not strategic relationships but ones that served his immediate interests.

‏**Trump After the Presidency… The Battle Isn’t Over**

‏Trump’s exit from the White House was not the end of his story but the beginning of its most dangerous chapter. Since losing to Biden, he has worked to undermine Americans’ trust in their democracy, baselessly claiming election fraud. The Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, was a direct result of his incendiary rhetoric—yet he never retracted his claims, instead doubling down on conspiracy theories. Now, as new elections approach, Trump returns with a more extreme discourse, openly speaking of “purging” the government of opponents and vowing to punish those who refuse loyalty to him.

‏**My View of His Politics: A Personal Project at the Expense of a Nation**

‏In my view, Trump was never a president who represented his country. He was a man trying to mold America to serve his own interests. He governed not with the mindset of a statesman but with that of a businessman who sees politics as a marketplace for personal gains and bids. Today, as he seeks a comeback, the question is not just how he will act, but how the American system will confront this challenge. Will America allow a president who views democracy as a tool for self-service to regain power?

‏**The Lesson: A Threat to Democracy’s Foundations**

‏Experience has proven that Trump is not merely a fleeting political phenomenon but a new breed of leader threatening democracy from within. The critical question remains: Will American voters learn from the past, or will the lure of populism drag him back to the White House?