Phar, Kim Beng (2026) Stopping Trump an impossible task. Free Malaysia Today, 2026 (26). pp. 1-3.
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Abstract
This article examines the political and institutional challenges associated with constraining the power and influence of Donald Trump within the United States and the wider international system. It argues that efforts to resist or contain Trump cannot succeed through isolated political opposition, legal challenges, or elite mobilisation alone, particularly in the absence of widespread public support. The article highlights the resilience of Trump’s political movement and its capacity to draw strength from domestic dissatisfaction, political polarisation, and declining confidence in established institutions. At the international level, the unpredictability of American leadership further complicates the strategic calculations of allies and partners that have traditionally depended on the United States as a pillar of global stability. The article contends that attempts to confront Trump without addressing the deeper political and socioeconomic conditions sustaining his support are unlikely to produce lasting outcomes. Instead, greater attention must be directed towards rebuilding institutional credibility, strengthening democratic accountability, and understanding the domestic foundations of contemporary American populism. It concludes that stopping Trump may remain an impossible task unless political institutions, civil society, and the broader electorate can generate a sufficiently cohesive and sustained response to the structural forces that continue to reinforce his political influence.
| Item Type: | Article (Electronic Media) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Donald Trump; United States; Political Polarisation; Populism; Democratic Institutions; American Politics; Global Order; Political Leadership; Institutional Resilience; Democratic Accountability |
| Subjects: | J Political Science > JZ International relations |
| Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button): | International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) Office of the Rector |
| Depositing User: | Dr Kim Beng Phar |
| Date Deposited: | 19 Jul 2026 05:19 |
| Last Update: | 20 Jul 2026 10:12 |
| Queue Number: | 2026-07-Q4153 |
| URI: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/130052 |
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