Why the world wants Donald Trump to lose: Policies, Ukraine and the way he may damage democracy

Donald Trump in 2024 is not the same as Donald Trump in 2016.

He’s older, angrier – and, Democrats fear, out for revenge.

Where in 2016 at least some of the people around him were “sensible” Republicans, doing their best to put guard rails around his worst impulses, those people are long gone.

There will be few if any voices around him in a second term who can soothe his temper or argue against his darker urges.

Here’s some of his most troubling policies and obsessions – and why they would be bad for the world.

Immigration

Domestically, his campaign has leaned heavily into anti-immigrant rhetoric.

At his rallies, he paints refugees as murderous gang members who have “invaded” and “conquered” America’s great cities.

He’s promised to “round up” undocumented migrants and deport them immediately.

Anti-democracy

Democrats have drawn attention to a document called Project 2025, which they believe will be a blueprint for a second Trump presidential term.

The 900 page plan, prepared by right-wing group the Heritage Foundation, outlines how a President could seize direct control of government departments, overhaul the FBI and shut down the Department for Education.

Reproductive health and women’s rights

Perhaps most chilling parts of Project 2025 are the 200 mentions of abortion in the document – effectively withdrawing abortion medication nationally and, Democrats say, creating “a national monitor that would be monitoring your pregnancies, your miscarriages.”

Democrats have warned the Trump administration would not only seek to crack down even further on abortion, but place controls on

Culture wars

Trump has also railed against a string of culture wars easy targets – chiefly trans people – but while they’re an easy applause line at a rally, they’re complex to legislate in reality.

It remains to be seen whether he’ll lose interest in his second term – but even talking about them creates a menacing atmosphere and leaves minorities unsettled.

Trade

Aside from immigration, Mr Trump’s other main focus – as you’d expect from the “author” of The Art of the Deal – is in trade policy.

He’s pledged to slap a 10% tax on all imported goods and raise tariffs on imports from China by more than 60%.

And in recent days he’s threatened to slap tariffs on Mexico in a bid to force their hand on border policies.

The UK had no luck agreeing a free trade deal with the US under Biden, and it seems unlikely that would change under Trump.

Ukraine, wars and foreign relations

Internationally, Trump is as isolationist and non-interventionist as he was in 2016 – when he pledged to put “America First.”

He’s consistently promised to end American involvement in conflicts overseas – and would move to withdraw US assistance for Ukraine.

However he’s pledged unwavering support for Israel and cultivated a friendly relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu in his first term.

He’s likely to seek closer ties and allegiances with “strongman” world leaders – like Vladimir Putin – if he’s elected a second time, and paints himself in a similar light – as a “strong leader” who won’t let America get walked over on the world’s stage.

Where that leaves more technocratic leaders – like Keir Starmer and other European premiers – remains to be seen, though the dinner between Mr Starmer and Mr Trump during his visit to the UN in August was said to be cordial.