Trump’s Return and the World That Awaits

Trump’s 2024 win reshapes America, strains Canada, and unsettles global stability. What does it mean for democracy, diplomacy, and everyday life?

Nov 06, 2024

When the 2024 U.S. election results were announced, a familiar name emerged, one that millions celebrated and millions more feared. Donald J. Trump had defeated Kamala Harris in a landmark return to the White House, once again dividing the nation not just along partisan lines, but across lived experiences, family dinner tables, and international borders.

To his supporters, the result marked a long-awaited correction, a chance to restore policies they believed had made America stronger, more secure, and more economically vibrant. To his critics, it was a return to an era of fear, instability, and democratic erosion. However, for many Americans, Canadians, and global citizens alike, Trump’s victory poses hard questions. How will it reshape domestic policy in the U.S.? What will it mean for Canada, now navigating a second round of Trumpian disruption? What are the broader global implications in a world already teetering on the edge of geopolitical instability?

The answers lie in how nations respond to rising authoritarianism, in how neighbours support one another through uncertainty, and in whether citizens around the world choose cynicism or courage.

The Second Trump Term Begins at Home

Domestically, the immediate consequences of Trump’s return are already taking shape. For many Americans, the focus lies on economic relief, especially in the face of rising inflation, stagnant wages, and a lingering cost-of-living crisis. Trump’s campaign leaned heavily on promises of economic rejuvenation. However, the mechanisms he plans to use are likely to echo his first term: deregulation, tax cuts for corporations, and a dismantling of oversight that could favour growth, at the cost of long-term resilience.

A return to deregulation will likely benefit heavy industries, fossil fuels, and finance, but also risks sidelining environmental protections, labour rights, and public health safeguards. For working Americans, the trade-off may become apparent quickly: a small bump in take-home pay, perhaps, but fewer safeguards, greater environmental risk, and a growing chasm between corporate prosperity and individual security.

Behind the scenes, Trump is also expected to reshape the civil service, replacing career officials with loyalists. While this may streamline political decision-making, it raises serious concerns about objectivity, expertise, and the independence of institutions meant to serve the people, not the presidency.

For communities already on the margins, racialized groups, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ people, the social risks of a second Trump term loom even larger. Trump’s rhetoric, often seen as inflammatory or outright discriminatory, emboldens extremism in both word and deed. Hate crimes rose during his previous term, and the sympathetic federal administration may invite renewed hostility in cities and rural towns alike.

Canada Watches and Feels the Earthquake Next Door

If geography is destiny, then Canada’s fate is inevitably bound to its southern neighbour. No country shares a longer land border with the United States, no economy is more intertwined, and no democracy is more immediately affected by shifts in U.S. power than the one north of the 49th parallel.

The return of Donald Trump puts Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and whoever may follow him in an uncomfortable position. The two leaders clashed during Trump’s first term, with public spats that made international headlines. Private tensions also surfaced, particularly rumours of Trump’s jealousy over Trudeau’s rapport with Ivanka Trump, which reportedly stoked further animosity. These dynamics may seem petty, but they illustrate how easily personal grievances can distort cross-border relations in an era of strongman politics.

Trump's return could once again destabilize trade relations between the two countries. His “America First” ideology doesn’t stop at rhetoric; it informs tariffs, trade barriers, and economic nationalism. During his previous administration, Canada faced duties on steel, aluminum, and softwood lumber, with little recourse and even less goodwill. A repeat or worse escalation is likely.

For Canada’s small and medium-sized businesses, this is not a theoretical concern. With U.S. tariffs already back on key Canadian exports, some manufacturers are being forced to shift operations to the U.S. to survive, draining the domestic industry and weakening the country’s ability to build a resilient, self-sustaining economy.

The Immigration Dilemma on Both Sides of the Border

Immigration is a moral, logistical, and political minefield, particularly in an era of rising global displacement and social strain. Trump’s second term is expected to usher in renewed crackdowns on undocumented migrants, stricter border controls, and greater pressure on ICE to carry out deportations.

This could have a direct effect on Canada, as vulnerable individuals look north for refuge. But Canada, for all its self-image as a welcoming and multicultural society, is already buckling under the weight of its immigration challenges. A surge in asylum seekers may be met not with open arms but with tightened borders, strained resources, and growing public resentment.

Canada’s job market, housing supply, and social services have been stretched thin by rapid immigration, particularly over the past five years. While most Canadians still support immigration in principle, especially high-skilled immigration, the system’s cracks are becoming impossible to ignore. Trump’s return could exacerbate these tensions, forcing Canada to make difficult decisions about who it admits, how it supports them, and how to uphold its international reputation while managing internal dissent.

A Less Stable World, A More Assertive Trump

Beyond North America, the stakes grow even higher.

Trump’s ambivalence toward NATO, his admiration for authoritarian leaders, and his transactional approach to diplomacy suggest that long-standing alliances may falter. His disinterest in supporting Ukraine’s defence against Russian aggression could shift the balance of power in Europe. A weakened U.S. commitment to Ukraine may not only embolden Vladimir Putin but signal to other autocrats that military aggression comes with few consequences.

China, too, is watching closely. If Trump backs away from defending Ukraine, Beijing may calculate that the U.S. will similarly hesitate to intervene over Taiwan. Should China escalate its efforts to absorb the island nation, the world could face a full-scale conflict in the Asia-Pacific.

Meanwhile, in the Middle East, Trump is likely to double down on alliances with Israel and Saudi Arabia while tightening the screws on Iran. This approach could deepen existing divides and provoke instability across the region, especially if Trump chooses to escalate rather than de-escalate tensions.

In every corner of the world, Trump’s return injects uncertainty, fuelled not only by ideology but by unpredictability itself. Allies are anxious. Adversaries are opportunistic. And global citizens are left wondering what comes next.

What We Can Learn, and What We Can Do

Trump’s reelection is not a fluke. It is the result of deep-rooted divisions, economic frustration, social alienation, and a political culture that rewards spectacle over substance. To simply point fingers at Trump, his voters, or America at large is to miss the point entirely.

This moment calls for reflection. Canadians must ask themselves hard questions about our system, our policies, and our resilience. How do we safeguard our economy against external shocks? How do we support immigrants while ensuring social stability? How do we uphold democracy when democratic norms are under threat across the border?

There are no easy answers, but there are necessary conversations. We must invest in civic education. We must advocate for policies that protect both people and principles. Most of all, we must resist the temptation to retreat into cynicism, because democracy depends on participation even when it feels futile.

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