2026 Faces Of The Trump Administration – OpEd
Forecasters of what’s in store for the US in politics and economics in 2026 generally agree that domestic and international policy is likely to see more of the same. This second Trump administration is expected to operate on two distinct tracks. The first is a transactional “America First” foreign policy that prioritizes leverage over traditional alliances but continues to pursue hegemonic control in the American region. The second is a domestic ‘de’ and ‘re’ construction of the federal and state bureaucracies aimed at radical deregulation, immigration enforcement, tax cuts, “drill baby drill” energy related policies, as well as other key socio-economic components of his “MAGA” campaign.
In 2026, the shock and awe phase of Trump’s administration will likely shift into a more complex one of taking on legal challenges and legislative negotiation ahead of the 2026 midterm elections which is critical to the Republican party remaining in power after Trump. Historically, the president’s party almost always loses seats during midterms. This time round, Trump is buffeted by multiple electoral challenges that are likely to see a less compliant Congress especially in relation to his domestic policies.
As of late December 2025, Trump’s approval rating was approximately 43%, though individual polls show........





















Toi Staff
Sabine Sterk
Penny S. Tee
Gideon Levy
Waka Ikeda
Grant Arthur Gochin
Tarik Cyril Amar