The political establishment, chanceries, media, and public opinion in Washington, NATO/EU capitals, and worldwide remain exalted by a cacophony of hysterical, courteous, or even forced congratulations for the second triumphant return of Mr. Donald John Trump as the 47-th president of the United States.
Not only in 2017 (as an invited guest who attended Trump-1’s inauguration in Washington DC at no cost) but also in this current election of 2024, I have publicly expressed my support for Trump-2. With that said, I join the congratulations for his second term of presidency and wish his mission to “liberate/heal from the Deep State and bureaucratic democracy,” not only in the USA.
Without reiterating the alignment and beliefs I have previously articulated in various writings/posts, here is a summarized opinion on “10 battles won” by Mr. Trump and “5 strong hopeful messages” for the Euro-Atlantic future of my Nation (Albania and Kosovo):
- A Historic election victory: Fought on nearly all fronts, factors and actors now acknowledge that Mr. Trump has made history in the USA elections, winning all key areas: “approximately 300 electoral votes for President (from a required 270), a decisive majority in the Senate, Congress, and the popular vote.”
- Achieving a Second mandate with full merit: He won not only the second term but also the trust of American citizens to finalize the reforms initiated by Trump-1, strengthening the power of the White House (President) to confront the effects of economic crisis, corruption, illegal immigration, and abortion. This includes restoring faith in functional democracy, the “America First” model, and making radical changes in foreign policy, in relations with NATO, the EU, Ukraine, the Middle East, the Balkans, Russia, China, Iran, etc.
Opponents now admit that Trump’s return was made possible by his project, which is based on: “a package of conservative policies to free the USA from the Deep State, meaning the interests of underground actors (unelected), bureaucrats with democratic collars, corruption, philanthropists, etc.” In other words, he brought the leftist Obama/Biden status quo to its knees and earned the Trump-2 mandate to de-bureaucratize, reform, and strengthen presidential power as a guarantee to: “re-make America even greater or an unrivaled superpower for the centuries to come”!
- 3. Victory in the courts: Over the past four years, he stood as a great statesman, winning dozens of lawsuits, unfortunately inspired not only by political opponents within the White House and the imposing power of oligarchs who have occupied/captured state institutions but also by infighting, i.e., from the so-called bones of the Republican Party.
- Surviving 2 assassination attempts: “Perhaps God himself saved him from two assassination attempts with firearms,” according to Intelligence Services, “inspired not only by terrorist states/organizations but also by the hostile spirit of the Deep State.” But as Mr. Trump had promised, “all those interested in imprisoning or killing him,” including terrorists hiding behind the assassinations, got their answer with votes on November 5, 2024.
- Confronting with media machine: More than anyone before him, he humiliated the owners and pawns of the media industry, meaning fake news, deep-fakes, disinformation, and exit polls. “F*ck you” were the deserved message to poll experts after the elections!
- Most impressive economic model: Beyond words, with deeds from his first presidency (testified or enjoyed also by +hundreds of thousands of Albanian families living in USA), all bowed down that the successful businessman Mr. Trump presented the most convincing project for the economy and the improvement of the well-being life of American citizens. Specifically: “the transition from income taxes to only a consumption tax”; simplifying personal income taxes from: “15% on base income and 30% on higher income; reducing the corporate tax rate from 21% to 18%, while during Trump-1, he did low from 35% to 21%!”
- 7. Strengthening NATO and Security: He defeated the misinformation machine that claimed Trump would dissolve NATO and leave countries not fulfilling the 2% obligations at the mercy of Russia. Mr. Trump has reconfirmed his Trump-2 project for an “unrivaled USA but also the need for a stronger NATO and EU, meaning a safer world.” His “much-discussed threat” resulted in “less than 5 (before 2017), and now (2024) 25 of the 32 member states (including Albania) have increased military spending to 2% of GDP, while the EU reached €500 billion for defense.” Truths/deeds speak louder than lies.
Trump-2 will take an even more aggressive approach towards China, which he considers a serious threat to the economy and US interests. He has warned Beijing that he will impose high tariffs on Chinese imports but remains open to a new trade deal with Xi Jinping, surpassing the stagnant four years of Biden’s administration.
- Immigration policy: Beyond internationalist propaganda, Trump-2’s program includes a stricter policy (in addition to a digital wall) for illegal immigrants who also serve as a base for organized crime, drugs, human trafficking, etc. According to a recent poll, this strong stance (some call it harsh) was one of the reasons for his historic victory, as 65% of Americans in border states voted for Trump-2. I believe this “harsh” approach towards only illegal immigrants contributes to the fight against organized crime, both in the USA and in the countries where immigrants originate.
- 9. Family and social policies: Trump achieved this spectacular victory due to his conservative (Reaganian) project on family values, grounded in right-wing principles, addressing racial inequalities and programs supporting marginalized communities. Trump-2 promises to create a “Department of Life” promote “Medicare Advantage” for retirees, and increase competition in the healthcare market. He plans to repeal Biden’s executive orders on climate protection, which he considers as driving forces behind the “climate corruption industry.”
- Global Leadership: Trump has prevailed against cynical leftist propaganda, which portrays Trump-2 as an “isolationist project” not only among political opponents in the USA. As a privileged witness of the 2017 inauguration, Trump re-made clear that, while he commits to doing everything possible for a greater America, he calls upon EU leaders—Germany, the UK, France, etc.—to strengthen their own countries likewise He will do for USA, and all together will make the world safer r. This closely aligns with Turkey’s founder Ataturk’s approach: “Peace at home, Peace in the world.”
Additionally, his approach to “exposing strength even in dialogue” to economically, militarily (if necessary), and geopolitically undermine Russia’s Putin in Ukraine and warn Iran that it will face the overwhelming power of the USA if it even plan to use nuclear weapons against Israel or threatens US interests in the Middle East. This “language of strong power” was reaffirmed in his meeting with President Zelensky in Washington: “If Trump were President, Putin, who knows well about determination, would not have taken this madness in February 2022,” and He guaranteeing that: “He will end the war very quickly”, which needs to be proved how, when, etc.
- Taking into consideration leassons learned from such the deserved victory of HE Donald Tramp-2, I want to address “Five strong messages of Hope for Albania, Kosovo and not only”:
Firstly, Awakening of Albanian Aspirations: “hopefully this victory should serve to awaken Albanians “noble aspirations to confront and overcome such a failed stat or state captured by corrupt politicians, facade democracy, privatized pluralism by paranoiac or immortal leaders, and misusing 12 years of governance as electoral power of the ruling socialist party”!
Secondly, strengthening the Strategic Partnership with the USA: “Beyond the race to find out the greatest words to congratulate President Trump: “strategic partnership with the USA remains critically, if not vitally, important for Albania-Kosovo’s reciprocal interests in the region and the Euro-Atlantic future”.
Thirdly, Right-Wing Inspiration: Albania has a vital need to “self-produce a Trump and a Trumpist Movement” to confront and overcome the crisis of democracy, facade pluralism, consequences of a failed state, returning to a right-wing movement with its principles.
Fourthly, Continued Support for Kosovo: In addition to the USA’s support over 112 years for Albanian Independence, NATO Membership, Kosovo Independence, etc: “the Peace Agreement signed at the White House under the Trump-1 (September 2020) between two sovereign countries (Kosovo-Serbia),” including “the peace highway between Belgrade-Prishtina, a regional port in the Adriatic, and recognition of Kosovo by Israel, among others,” should be inscribed in Albania’s collective memory.
Fifthly, Inspiring Albanian Political Renewal: Inspired by Trump’s historical victory, Albanians may awaken a noble consciousness of 1991, joining a mission for a modern right, making Albania a true democracy, despite the prevailing leftist, deep state, fake pluralism and also cynical politicians in right side ruling over the country for the past 33 years.
May God bless the victory of Trump-2’s Presidency, and also the strategic partnership between Albania and the USA, and the reawakening of hope for Albanians to make their country likewise the USA and all democratic European countries.
Author: Albanian Ret. Gen Piro AHMETAJ:
Senior Adviser on NS, Regional & NATO Matters,
Vice President of Atlantic Counsil,
Board member of Israel House; and former:
National Security Adviser to Democratic Party,
Defense adviser to the President, DCHOD, and
National Military Representative to SHAPE/NATO
