Despite the three criminal indictments he is facing, former US president Donald Trump is actively campaigning for the presidency: By all accounts, his campaign is going well in parts of the Republican base.
A New York Times poll published on July 31 found that 54 percent of Republican voters would support Trump if the election for the party’s presidential nominee were held today.
Trump recently won the support of all Republican representatives from Alabama. Furthermore, his deranged rallies continue to draw a large and enthusiastic crowd: While in Pennsylvania, Trump called US President Joe Biden “an enemy of the state” and repeated baseless electoral fraud claims. Trump, a populist demagogue, is apt to sow distrust in the federal government as part of his strategy. This blatant manipulation of public trust results in voters becoming increasingly disenchanted with liberal democratic institutions.
Nevertheless, Trump’s unapologetic anti-communist stance makes him attractive among certain groups of Taiwanese and Taiwanese Americans. Amid geopolitical tensions between China and the US, some hope for another figure like former US president Ronald Reagan.
However, Trump’s unrestrained and pugnacious style is likely to drive a rift between the US and its allies.
For instance, in an interview with Fox News, Trump accused Taiwan of taking away semiconductor business from the US and said that Washington should have imposed tariffs on Taiwan. This sentiment is consistent with his “America First” policy, which led to the US’ withdrawal from international treaties and organizations.
There are signs that established Republicans are distancing themselves from Trump. Following the indictment of Trump, former US vice president Mike Pence said: “Anyone who puts himself over the constitution should never be president of the United States.”
Pence, who is also seeking the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, has made it clear that he would continue supporting Ukraine militarily if elected. Nevertheless, some Republicans remain skeptical about supporting Kyiv, seeing the Ukraine war as a result of NATO’s expansionism. Trump believes that he could end the war in one day by pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to the negotiation table.
This seems like an overwhelmingly optimistic solution to a very difficult problem. As Kyiv’s counteroffensive stagnates, Ukraine fatigue within the US spreads, leading some to portray support for the European country as a financial burden and to demand quick solutions. Most of these solutions are wishful thinking and they risk betraying Ukrainian soldiers who put their life on the line to defend against Russian expansionism.
Even if the Republican Party ends up not nominating Trump for the presidency, there is still the risk of other candidates emulating Trump’s “America First” policy that seems to attract a large portion of the US’ blue-collar workers. Trumpism can still survive without Trump.
Unlike Trump’s increasingly isolationist stance, the Biden administration has announced US$345 million in military aid for Taiwan, largely drawing on the US’ own stockpiles to expedite arms deliveries. Taiwan and Ukraine need a resolute US president to have their backs.
Biden’s leadership is far from perfect, but the resurgence of Trumpism would only leave the US weaker domestically and internationally, which would be a detriment to Taiwan and the democratic front against authoritarian regimes.
Linus Chiou is a part-time writer based in Kaohsiung.
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