The election of Republican nominee Donald Trump as the next President of the United States has surprised everyone the world over. A rank outsider to the political system, few expected him to win the nomination, let alone the Presidency. He has no experience of holding a public offi ce save that of managing a large profi table company. Though he trailed behind Hillary Clinton in the pre-polls, he proved to be America’s all-time great dark horse. Now that he is the next President, he will have to give up his habits of badmouthing his rivals, talking nonsense and needlessly showing faces in public. In short, he has to be more Presidential.
It is true that no matter who becomes the President, it is the American system which will take over. In other words, Trump has to play according to the dictates of the system and cannot, therefore, be a lone ranger. So the fears that he will be reckless and will start building a Great Wall of America to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the country are out of place. On his part, he will also like to leave a legacy behind and not end up as the maverick who should not have been the President. India has reasons to cheer Trump’s victory for many reasons. In general, Republican Presidents have been more favourably inclined towards India than the Democratic ones.
For instance, it was during Bush Junior’s presidency that India and the US signed the game-changing civil nuclear deal. True, during Barack Obama’s term, the relationship has been solidifi ed so much so that they are now strategic partners. India’s stature as a fast-growing economy which will soon overtake several European economies cannot but make it dearer to the US. The US has to gain as much as India has to gain from such a relationship. It is no longer a one-way traffic. Trump’s statements paying fulsome praise to India and its cultural practices have endeared him to the Indians who expect a better bilateral relationship.