International response may be the next turning point. Many affected countries belong to major trade alliances and global institutions, raising the possibility of retaliatory measures, including reciprocal visa bans or economic consequences. As the United States seeks to ensure its generosity is no longer “misused,” it may discover that other nations are equally willing to reevaluate their engagement with a country increasingly choosing separation over cooperation. The turbulent opening of this second term appears to be only the beginning of a deeply transformative—and contentious—era in American history.
