Prepare for Trump 2.0 as early as possible

The government must brace for all scenarios to minimize damages from the Trump administration 2.0.

Donald Trump won the New Hampshire primary by a large margin following his earlier victory in the Iowa caucus. His repeated victories in the early stages of the election suggests a rematch with President Joe Biden after four years.

Trump leads Biden by more than 2 percentage points in nearly all polls. More than nine months are left until the November election, but the developments point to the possibility of Trump being re-elected president. U.S. media outlets already predicted who will serve key posts in the Trump administration — including former national security advisor Robert O’Brien as secretary of state and former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, the designer of protectionist policy for Trump, as commerce secretary.

Trump’s return would have a massive impact on global politics, including the U.S.-China hegemony war, and the U.S. domestic politics. Given Trump’s close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his re-election can significantly affect the Ukraine war and the Gaza war.

Political leaders in Europe are urging NATO to devise countermeasures against Trump’s apparent demand for more cost bearing from NATO members if he is re-elected. Canada has activated “Team Canada,” comprised of relevant government ministers and the ambassador to the United States, to deal with the repercussions pre-emptively. In Japan, former prime minister and current vice president of the Liberal Democratic Party, Taro Aso, a golf aficionado, will likely serve as Trump’s counterpart.

Given the U.S. influence on South Korea, the country must prepare for Trump’s re-election more thoroughly than before. In the first Trump administration, Trump mentioned the withdrawal of U.S. forces from South Korea and pressured the country to bear the defense cost five times more than before. Though the U.S.-North Korea summit ended in failure in Hanoi, Trump did meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for the first time. North Korea is ratcheting up tensions from the start of the year. But the Trump administration 2.0 could accept the North as a nuclear power and start armed reduction talks.

Trump’s vow to scrap the Inflation Reduction Act on the first day as president would deal a critical blow to Korean companies. As the maxim goes, you must not put all your eggs in one basket. Korea must engage in wise diplomacy to spread its risks. The government must brace for all scenarios to minimize damages from the Trump administration 2.0. We hope the presidential office and the diplomacy and security team launch a task force just like Canada did to protect its national interest.