Similarly, heliocentrism, first proposed by Aristarchus of Samos (c. 310–230 BCE) and later revived by Copernicus (1473–1543 CE), met staunch opposition. The Catholic Church opposed Copernicus’ model, and advocates like Giordano Bruno and Galileo Galilei faced severe consequences—Bruno was executed, and Galileo was confined to house arrest for defending the idea of a Sun-centered universe.
Trump’s political journey bears striking parallels to the struggles of these historical figures. Like them, he has faced significant resistance—allegations of election fraud in 2020, impeachment efforts, legal challenges, and even threats to his life during the 2024 campaign. Yet, his return to the presidency, set for January 20, 2025, underscores his resilience and broad support. The Republican Party’s simultaneous control of the Senate and the House of Representatives—a first in a century—further highlights the movement he has built.
Trump’s determination recalls figures like Ferdinand Magellan, whose historic circumnavigation proved the earth’s spherical shape. Just as Magellan’s expedition was driven by perseverance, Trump’s commitment to “draining the Washington swamp” and instituting bold reforms is poised to reshape the U.S. political landscape.
This anticipated transformation is comparable to other seismic shifts in human understanding, such as the visual confirmation of the earth’s shape via 20th-century satellite imagery or the revolutionary effects of artificial intelligence and social media. These innovations redefined how humanity interacts with the world, much like Trump’s policies are expected to redefine U.S. governance and global influence.
In preparation for his second term, Trump has begun assembling a team reflective of his unorthodox approach. He has appointed long-time ally Susie Wiles as Chief of Staff, crediting her for his electoral success. Key nominations include Tom Homan as Border Czar, Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, and former Congressman Matt Gaetz as Attorney General.
Other notable appointees include Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman, as Director of National Intelligence; Chris Wright, an oil industry executive, as Energy Secretary; and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a controversial figure due to his stance on vaccines, as Public Health Secretary. These choices signal Trump’s intention to challenge conventional governance and implement transformative changes during his upcoming term.
Former serviceman Doug Collins, known for defending Donald Trump during his first impeachment trial, has been appointed as Secretary of Veterans Affairs, while North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, with extensive business and governance experience, has been named Secretary of the Interior. John Ratcliffe will serve as CIA Director, and Kristi Noem has been chosen as Secretary of Homeland Security.
Among Trump’s appointments, the most innovative is the creation of a new federal agency, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Tech billionaire Elon Musk and former Republican rival Vivek Ramaswamy will lead this agency. DOGE’s mission is to streamline government by reducing excessive regulations, cutting wasteful spending, and restructuring federal agencies. Announcing the initiative, Trump stated: “I am pleased to announce that the great Elon Musk, working in conjunction with American patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Department of Government Efficiency (‘DOGE’). Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excessive regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies—essential to the ‘Save America’ movement. This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in government waste, which is a lot of people!”
These reforms are expected to challenge Washington’s entrenched systems, ushering in an era of efficiency and innovation that could influence global governance trends for years.
Interestingly, Trump’s DOGE initiative parallels Nigeria’s 2012 Oronsaye Report, which outlined measures to reduce governance costs by consolidating Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Despite its potential, the report has been largely ignored for over a decade, contributing to Nigeria’s current debt crisis, which the Debt Management Office estimates currently N134.3 trillion. President Bola Tinubu’s recent reforms, such as removing fuel subsidies and devaluing the naira, align with Trump’s bold approach and could serve as inspiration for addressing Nigeria’s governance challenges.
Trump is also targeting “wokeism,” a term that originally referred to awareness of social injustices but has evolved into a critique of perceived political overreach and divisiveness. Trump’s opposition to wokeism resonates with figures like Elon Musk, who joined his campaign partly due to personal experiences—Musk’s son underwent a gender transition, a decision Musk attributed to ideological influences he opposes. Musk reportedly contributed $118 million to support Trump’s campaign and challenge cultural trends they see as harmful.
Trump’s return to the presidency in 2025 will make him only the second U.S. president, after Grover Cleveland, to serve two non-consecutive terms. In his victory speech, Trump described this achievement as the “greatest political movement of all time” and vowed to restore the country’s values, saying: “There’s never been anything like this in this country, and maybe now it’s going to reach a new level of importance because we’re going to help our country heal. We have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly.”
Trump’s reforms aim to reset America’s moral compass, reflecting the values of its founding fathers and challenging what he perceives as a decline in societal ethics. His focus on combating wokeism and restoring traditional principles underpins his broader vision to Make America Great Again (MAGA).
While implementing these changes will be complex, Trump’s presidency could redefine governance and democracy for the modern era. Much like Athens pioneered democracy in the 5th century BCE, Trump’s efforts may reshape democratic systems globally. His forthcoming term, marked by ambitious reforms, will likely serve as a critical test for the resilience and adaptability of American democracy.