The president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, today held the first press conference after the certification of the elections and his statements worried enemies and allies
The first government between 2017 and 2021 was marked by countless heated interviews and controversial statements that had a very dubious impact around the world. His protectionist stance towards the economy, truculent towards enemies and unfriendly towards historical allies, meant that much of international diplomacy had to adapt to meet the preferences and eccentricities of the president of the most important country in the world. During the 2024 election campaign, despite maintaining his media style in his rallies and interviews, his speeches were widely considered more moderate than the first government. Such conduct made many analysts who have covered the White House for years think that his four years away from command of the United States had brought the necessary maturity and decorum consistent with the position he held and will occupy. However, the press conference held today, full of catchphrases and a threatening tone, makes us rethink whether the relative moderation at the end of the campaign was really genuine.
Donald Trump, who has been fighting a verbal battle against Canada for weeks, repeated again that he considers the annexation of his northern neighbor as the 51st state, and that it would be a gain for both territories, in addition to once again considering the purchase of Greenland, autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. In both cases, Trump did not explain how he would carry out such actions, only saying that both territories represent a strong economic interest for the United States. Another topic of questioning was the Panama Canal, a great engineering project built by North Americans in Central America more than 100 years ago. Donald Trump argued that construction carried out by the United States Army is still a fundamental part of the business of multiple companies in his country and said that today, the canal would be controlled by China. In relation to this allegation, no evidence or evidence was presented to corroborate the statement. When asked whether he would use military force or economic coercion to achieve his goals in Greenland and Panama, the president-elect only responded: “I can’t guarantee anything about either. But I can say this: We need them for economic security.”
Regarding Europe, Donald Trump said that the war in Ukraine is tragic and that if he had been president of the United States at the time of the Russian invasion in 2022, Putin would not have gone ahead with his military maneuvers, in addition to making it clear that his intention is to assist in concluding the conflict through diplomatic means, right at the beginning of his mandate. When he mentioned another important ongoing war, the war between Israel and Hamas, Trump was categorical in stating that “he will open the gates of hell” if Hamas does not release the hostages by his inauguration, on January 20th. All these strong declarations about various sovereign nations, global institutions and conflicts around the world continue to resonate intensely across various nations.
The use of rhetorical devices, threats and even a joking tone at many times were part of his first government and his campaign, but the question that hangs in the air now is whether all of this will or can be fulfilled in 4 years of mandate. There are practical issues that prevent the implementation of some statements, such as the purchase of Greenland, which is not for sale, or the annexation of Canada as a state, which has no interest in joining the United States and losing its sovereignty. However, there are also issues that are achievable from a practical aspect, but unfeasible from a political point of view, such as a military intervention in Panama to take control of the canal, since any measure of this nature would undermine all remaining credibility of the United States, as a nation that respects the sovereignty of other countries. What we hear today may just be a prelude to the next four years, as perhaps it is just Trump’s last act in his campaign mode, before taking on the more serious and realistic guise of the president of the most influential nation on the planet. We will know which stance will be adopted from January 20th. Let’s hope.
*This text does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Jovem Pan.
