It’s Donald Trump’s world and we all just happen to live in it

How did Donald Trump make a stunning political comeback? By now, much has been said about that old mantra that “it’s the economy, stupid!” and the anti-incumbency effects of inflation and rising costs of living.

Trump also electrified the “manosphere”, winning over Black and Latino male voters, something that I covered in The Straits Times ’ To The Point with my colleague Olivia Quay.

Which is why when Vice-President Kamala Harris lost, it begged the question of what role gender played in this election.

The answer? Very little, for Trump emerged a “great unifier”, as our US bureau chief Bhagyashree Garekar puts it. He stitched together a broader coalition, even winning the popular vote – the first time for a Republican candidate in two decades.

Trump’s win throws interesting insights on America’s brand of democracy. Moving ahead, that should also mean that Trump must respect the system of checks and balances that restored him to power, even if he’s swept both houses of Congress and comes to power with a Republican-tilted Supreme Court.

Now the focus must turn to what will happen next. South-east Asia is grappling with the effects of higher tariffs leading to more cheap Chinese goods flooding their markets, as Indochina bureau chief Tan Hui Yee reports.

Across the Indian Ocean, discussions are growing over how Trump’s America First policy could affect the flow of people and goods.

Markets may have responded positively but many economists are jittery about the potential inflationary risks of Trump’s tariffs, senior business correspondent Ovais Subhani highlights.

And at stake is how he’ll shape the world order when he takes power, and how fast the latticework President Joe Biden has put in place across Asia will remain.

Until next week, here are my picks of the week to get yours started.

Cheers,

Suling Lin , Senior columnist

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