January 20th marked exactly one year since Donald Trump resumed office as the 47th President of the United States.

The initial results of Donald Trump’s tenure are assessed differently in the United States and abroad, yet there appears to be a broad consensus that the American leader has shaken both the global economy and international politics - a shock whose effects are still being felt today.

Shock Therapy for the World

The Trump phenomenon itself has provoked strong reactions worldwide. He has clearly succeeded in placing himself at the center of international affairs, and his narcissism and passion are acknowledged by both supporters and critics alike. On January 14th, the business publication The Wall Street Journal published an article praising Trump’s performance under the headline “America Is the Sole Superpower Again.”

It asserts that the United States has now strengthened its position among the great powers, while China is “sliding to a distant second place.” GDP growth forecasts for this year range from 2% to 5%; Americans are leaders in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and space exploration, and are the world’s largest oil producers (approximately 14 million barrels per day). Trump has used tariffs to restore fair trade and increase US revenues and has also strengthened military power and the defense industrial base.

The Saudi newspaper Sharq Al Awsat summarized these assessments with the succinct conclusion, “America and I come first.”

Narcissism, Passionarity, and Global Consequences

At the same time, it must be acknowledged that critical statements about the American president predominate in both the American media and the international press. For example, the Al-Ahram newspaper, like many other media outlets in other countries, published an article by renowned American economist and Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglis, which asserts that “in 2025, Donald Trump’s unpredictable and illegitimate policies have upended the post-war era of globalization and set in motion a process that will culminate in America’s loss of global preeminence - not only are the sources of economic power being destroyed, but all other countries are seeking to distance themselves from America as quickly as possible.”

According to him, the long-term prospects for the US economy look bleak; the US is no longer as important as it once was, now accounting for less than 10% of global exports, and America will soon lose its hegemony: “This is precisely where we are heading as we enter our second year at the mercy of the whims of an insane president.” He is echoed by renowned political scientist Fareed Zakaria, who argues that the world is adapting to US unreliability, and that Washington has now seriously undermined trust in its policies: by treating allies as mere clients, using tariffs against them, and turning long-standing commitments into extortion, Washington has encouraged other countries to hedge their risks. The US is retreating into protectionism and nationalism, while the rest of the world is seeking expanded trade and cooperation.

The New York Times has also warned that something is profoundly wrong in Washington. According to the newspaper, the Trump administration is on the brink of one of its most catastrophic national security blunders yet - attempting to pressure Denmark into handing over Greenland to the United States. The author argues that such behaviour amounts to a betrayal of allies: “It’s not just wrong, it’s stupid - and this stupidity is permeating all of foreign policy.”

Trump’s actions regarding Venezuela and Greenland have antagonized Europeans and Latin Americans, and his harsh tariffs on trade with countries in the Global South have not gained him any support. His pronounced desire to impose his own policies has angered even his closest allies, such as Israel.

The American press ironically reported on Trump’s letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, in which he asserted that the world would not be safe unless the United States took control of Greenland. The press expressed resentment at Norway’s failure to award him the Nobel Peace Prize, despite “his successful resolution of eight international conflicts.”

It is now safe to say that in the modern world, attempts will continue to be made to evaluate Trump’s performance, to offer numerous arguments in his defense, and, perhaps, even more criticism of his policies. D. Trump’s efforts to reshape the modern world are consistent with his vision: “Make America Great Again.”

In conclusion, I would like to quote the words of Russian Presidential Press Secretary D.S. Peskov, who said that if we abstract from the pros and cons of Trump’s actions regarding Greenland, we can conclude that the American president will forever be remembered in the history of the United States and the world.

Mohammed Amer, Syrian publicist. Courtesy

https://journal-neo.su/2026/01/22/a-year-in-donald-trumps-new-presidency-radical-changes-in-the-world/