MENU

Yearender 2025: How Trump 2.0 sent shockwaves worldwide

Manisha Gupta

Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a event at the White House, in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Photo: IANS)


The year 2025, when viewed through the prism of global politics, will be impossible to recall without a mention of the tremors unleashed by US President Donald Trump. His return to the White House, branded as Trump 2.0, proved to be anything but quiet. From explosive remarks and aggressive tariffs to bold peace claims and confrontational diplomacy, Trump once again placed himself at the very centre of global discourse.

Whether allies or adversaries, many countries felt the Trumpquakes that defined the year. Oval Office meetings turned into headline-grabbing spectacles, trade corridors shook under tariff threats, and long-standing geopolitical equations were tested by Trump’s on-camera style of leadership.

Trump 2.0: A Dramatic Comeback

Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on 20 January 2025, during the 60th Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, to begin his second term as the US President. Declaring a reset, Trump announced: “The Golden Age of America begins.”

In the second innings, Trump doubled down on his campaign slogan, proclaiming it was time to “make America wealthy again, great again!”

While Americans are still wondering if the promised prosperity has materialised, the rest of the world has certainly felt the impact of Trump’s return. His second term began with swift reversals of policies introduced by predecessor and political rival Joe Biden, setting the tone for a presidency driven by disruption rather than continuity.

Tariff Tsunami: Trump’s Aggressive Trade Playbook

If one policy dominated global markets in 2025, it was Trump’s tariff war. Since January 2025, the US president repeatedly imposed and reinstated tariffs on multiple trading partners, pushing up costs on appliances, lumber, electrical components, and industrial goods. Trump embraced reciprocal tariffs, pressuring nations into renegotiating trade deals.

  • India in the Crosshairs

In August, Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, followed by another 25 per cent hike, taking total duties to 50 per cent. He cited India’s continued purchase of Russian oil as the reason, claiming it was fuelling Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

  • China Tariff Escalation

On 09 April, Trump announced an immediate increase in tariffs on China to 125 per cent. The move by the US President came following a retaliatory move by China, which increased its tariff on US goods from 34 per cent to 84 per cent starting April 10. After months, the tariff war reignited. Trump announced a staggering 155 per cent tariff on Chinese imports, effective 01 November 2025. Also, Washington imposed a 10 per cent tariff on all Chinese goods, citing fentanyl smuggling and illegal immigration. To this, Beijing retaliated swiftly, slapping 15 per cent tariffs on US coal and LNG and 10 per cent tariffs on crude oil. The renewed US-China trade war rattled global supply chains and financial markets.

  • US-Canada Tussle Intensifies

In October, Trump raised tariffs on Canada by 10%, over and above the already-imposed tariffs. This came when multiple Canadian products already face a 35% tariff, steel and aluminium are subject to a 50% tariff, and energy products face a 10% tariff. Earlier in June, Trump had announced to terminate all discussions on trade with Canada, calling it a difficult country to trade with. Not letting the rift settle in, Trump further raised eyebrows globally by repeatedly expressing his desire to make Canada the 51st state of the United States of America.

‘I’ve Ended Eight Wars’: Trump’s Controversial Peace Claims

Perhaps the most headline-grabbing aspect of Trump 2.0 was his repeated insistence that tariffs brought peace. He claims he has “ended eight wars,” not through diplomacy in the traditional sense, but through economic coercion, tariffs, and threats of overwhelming force.

“I’ve ended eight wars largely because of trade and tariffs,” Trump declared, presenting himself as a peacemaker who used   America’s economic muscle as a weapon of deterrence.

  • India-Pakistan: The Nuclear War That “Never Was”

Trump’s most dramatic claim involved India and Pakistan, two nuclear-armed neighbours with a long history of conflict. According to Trump, he stopped a potential nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan by threatening both countries with 350 per cent tariffs, claiming hostilities ended within 24 hours. “We stopped a potential nuclear war between Pakistan and India. It was going to be bad, very bad, and within 24 hours, it stopped,” Trump said.However, India has categorically denied any third-party mediation or tariff threats.

  • Thailand-Cambodia: A Border Dispute Trump Says He Froze

Trump also claimed credit for calming tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, countries that have periodically clashed over disputed border areas near historic temples. According to Trump, the mere threat of trade penalties was enough to force both sides to stand down. “They were going at it. I said, ‘You won’t trade with the US,’ and suddenly they were peaceful,” he claimed.Neither Bangkok nor Phnom Penh publicly acknowledged US tariff pressure as decisive.

  • Israel-Hamas: Peace Through Threats?

On 09 October, Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have signed off on the first phase of a US-backed peace plan, because of his blunt warnings. “If hostages are not released, all hell will break out in the Middle East,” Trump had warned. He later escalated his rhetoric, threatening Hamas, “An end to Hamas will be FAST, FURIOUS, & BRUTAL!”While limited agreements and pauses were discussed, a lasting ceasefire remained elusive. Hamas made no acknowledgment of Trump’s role, and violence resumed intermittently.

  • Russia-Ukraine: The War He Could Not End

In a rare moment of restraint, Trump admitted that he has not been able to solve the Russia-Ukraine conflict yet. “The only war I haven’t solved yet is Russia-Ukraine,” he conceded. However, he warned that continued fighting could escalate into World War III, urging negotiations from both the countries.Despite multiple diplomatic engagements, no breakthrough has occurred so far. During recent interviews, Trump appeared visibly frustrated by stalled talks.The ongoing war remains a glaring exception to his peace narrative.

  • Claims for ending multiple other conflicts

US President Trump has repeatedly cited his role in easing tensions between Serbia and Kosovo, pointing to agreements brokered during his earlier presidency and reaffirmed rhetorically in 2025. “That thing was ready to blow up. We stopped it,” Trump said.Trump has also suggested that US pressure helped stabilise relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea, following years of hostility.Furthermore, Trump has implied that his administration helped prevent renewed escalation between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh through diplomatic and economic pressure.Trump often revisited his historic engagement with North Korea, claiming that his personal rapport with Kim Jong Un prevented a catastrophic war on the Korean Peninsula. “If I wasn’t there, you’d have a war with North Korea,” he reiterated in 2025. While large-scale war was avoided, denuclearisation talks collapsed. North Korea continued missile tests.

With the 2025 closing and onset of 2026, Trump’s claim – “I’ve ended eight wars” – remains one of the most controversial and polarising assertions of his presidency.

FIFA Consolation for Nobel Dreams

Trump constantly sought recognition for his peace efforts, openly demanding a Nobel Peace Prize. That honour never came. Instead, he received the FIFA Peace Prize, which his supporters described as validation, while critics mocked it as a consolation.

Immigration Crackdown: ‘Make America Safe Again’

Within days of assuming office, Trump rolled out a flurry of executive orders reshaping immigration, trade, and foreign policy. Key immigration measures included declaring a national emergency at the southern border, deploying military for border enforcement, tightening visa norms, expanding travel bans and ramping up deportations. This year alone, more than 85,000 visas were revoked under the tougher enforcement regime

On immigration, he announced a USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications, citing job losses for American workers. The proposal sent shockwaves through the global tech workforce, particularly in India.

Trump justified the aggressive push as essential to “Make America Safe Again,” a slogan that became central to his domestic narrative, and a flashpoint internationally.

Dramatic Trump-Elon Fallout: From Allies to Adversaries

One of 2025’s most viral political dramas was the Trump-Elon Musk feud. Once a vocal supporter, Musk headed the Department of Government Efficiency, overseeing spending cuts. Relations soured after Musk criticised Trump’s tax-and-spending proposals and floated plans for a new political party.

Trump retaliated by threatening to withdraw federal backing for Musk’s companies. The fallout dented Tesla’s stock and reputation, marking a dramatic end to one of America’s most high-profile political-business alliances.

It would be interesting to see if Trump and Elon patch up in 2026, or if it turns sour.

Trump Against BRICS, WHO

Major global institutions were put under fire by Trump in 2025. He openly attacked BRICS, calling it an attack on the dollar. “Anybody that wants to be in BRICS, that’s fine, but we’re going to put tariffs on your nation,” he said. He also withdrew the US from the World Health Organisation, reinforcing his scepticism of multilateral institutions. India, however, reiterated it had no intention of challenging the US dollar, distancing itself from Trump’s narrative.

The Year of Trumpquakes

Love him or hate him, you cannot ignore him. Donald Trump dominated global headlines throughout 2025. His remarks moved markets, unsettled alliances, and reshaped diplomatic conversations. From tariffs and immigration to peace claims and bold remarks, Trump 2.0 ensured that the world watched and reacted to all his moves.

As 2026 approaches, one question lingers: Will the tremors ease, or are bigger Trumpquakes yet to come?

Also Read