In November last year, Donald Trump was elected for his second non-consecutive term as President of the United States. The election result, whilst shocking, can hardly be called a surprise.
The incumbent President Joe Biden was unable to govern or command the confidence of the nation, whilst his successor as Democrat candidate Vice President Kamala Harris was too closely tied to his administration and entered the race far too late. The Harris campaign failed to offer any sort of real change or hope to the American people, allowing Trump to divide, conquer and walk back into the White House despite his appalling record and felonies.
Yesterday, Donald Trump was formally inaugurated into the office of President of the United States in a dramatic and lengthy ceremony. Following this he set about signing a huge number of executive orders, including removing the US from the Paris climate accords, unwavering support for Israeli war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank, attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, releasing hundreds of people convicted for serious violent crimes during the January 6 riots at the Capitol, abandoning the World Health Organisation and disgracefully placing Cuba back on the State Sponsors of Terrorism List just days after the Biden administration confirmed there was, and never has been, any engagement or support for terrorism.
The new era of Trump will bring new challenges to our movement and must inspire a global response and show of strength beyond the inadequate snivelling words of the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer or his Foreign Secretary David Lammy. The battle lines have been drawn - it is the people and planet against the profits of the billionaires attached to Trump's hip.
As Trump de-regulates climate and employee protections, the likes of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg seek to expand their wealth and influence. It must be a priority of our movement to break up this disastrous oligarchy and hand power back to the people and our communities through the democratisation of our workplaces, media and democracy to achieve peace and justice around the world.
We continue to stand in solidarity with all around the world who will suffer under Donald Trump's presidency but we will fight back - and we will win.