According to former Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Professor Grzegorz Kołodko, Trumpism reinforces trends of nationalism and economic and trade populism—not just in the United States, but also in other countries around the world. In his view, both Donald Trump and the ideology surrounding him will have negative consequences for global demographic, social, cultural, and economic processes. Trump’s presidency, he argues, fails to address the world’s most pressing challenges, such as migration, a new Cold War, and climate change.
In his recent book, “Trump 2.0: The Revolution of Sick Common Sense,” Professor Kołodko defines Trumpism as a quasi-ideological and political formation that, on one hand, believes in the omnipotence of the United States, while on the other, claims the right to use force to pursue its goals—regardless of the cost imposed on others by American expansionism. He labels Trumponomics as an “economy of absurdities,” unable to distinguish between cause and effect and blind to the feedback loops that exist in both national and international economic relations.
“Trumpism amplifies certain currents of new nationalism, economic and trade populism, and mercantilism in some countries. It may not have started these trends, but it definitely strengthens them,” said Prof. Kołodko in an interview with Newseria.
“It gives ideological wind in the sails of Argentina’s libertarian president Javier Milei, boosts populist movements like Marine Le Pen’s in France, Geert Wilders’ in the Netherlands, and Giorgia Meloni’s in Italy. In Poland, too, certain political currents—strongly populist and nationalist—benefit from the moral and political support of Trump and Trumponomics. We saw proof of that right before our last presidential elections.”
Trump’s Policies and Public Perception
Nearly half of Americans disapprove of Trump’s policies and his aggressive actions during the first 100 days of his presidency, according to a survey by AP-NORC. Among those, four in ten say Trump is a “terrible” president, while others label him as “weak.” In contrast, only 30% describe him as “great” or “good,” and 20% consider him “average.” Notably, even a significant number of Republicans believe Trump is focused on the wrong priorities.
Professor Kołodko argues that Trump’s leadership risks making America and the world worse off, as he fails to engage with fundamental global issues.
“The key challenges include the overheating of the climate and ongoing environmental degradation. Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. He has aggravated tensions related to migration and escalated the Cold War, particularly with China. He’s also managed to alienate former allies,” the economist explained.
“I once wrote an article subtitled ‘The End of the West as We Know It’. Some now talk about the end of NATO as we know it. This carries serious consequences for the future of globalization and international security. Overall, what emerges from Trump and Trumpism is decidedly negative for the world—for its demographic, social, cultural, and economic future. But we are only seeing the beginnings of this movement, so the true costs and damage are yet to be seen.”
The United States and the Illusion of Hegemony
In “Trump 2.0,” Kołodko writes that the United States is driven by selfish motives, and in pursuit of its interests, it will use political, economic, and—if necessary—military power. He stresses that Trump fails to grasp that the era of American dominance is over, and the world has entered a phase of multilateralism, requiring international cooperation in pursuit of shared interests.
“I stand by everything I wrote in Trump 2.0. In fact, Trump’s recent actions only confirm my assessment. It’s a tragedy—for the United States and for the rest of the world,” Kołodko concluded.
“But every action generates a reaction. So we must behave sensibly and, when others make mistakes, ensure we do not repeat them ourselves.”
Professor Kołodko’s warnings reflect a growing concern in international economic and political circles: that Trumpism is not just a U.S. phenomenon, but a global one, influencing policies and ideologies far beyond American borders—with consequences that could reshape the future of global cooperation, stability, and progress.
