Donald Trump is making waves on the world stage even before officially stepping into the Oval Office. Foreign leaders are lining up to speak with him, signaling that his presence is already being felt internationally. The former president has shaken up relations with countries like Mexico and Canada, threatening hefty tariffs, and issued stern warnings to militants in Gaza, demanding the release of hostages by his swearing-in date. While this is all unfolding 45 days before his official return to office, Trump is already playing the role of president-in-reality, stepping into the spotlight and crowding out Joe Biden’s presence as the current president.
Biden, who has made only a few public appearances since his term began winding down, recently took a trip to sub-Saharan Africa but faced significant political backlash following a pardon for his son, Hunter. During this time, Trump’s international forays and bold moves have been overshadowing Biden’s agenda. For instance, Trump will join French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris this weekend for the reopening of Notre Dame, an event that Biden, despite being invited, opted to skip. Trump's return to the international stage after four years out of the spotlight speaks volumes about his readiness to engage and the perception that foreign governments have of him.
For those who closely follow Trump’s political style, it’s clear that he doesn’t play by the conventional rules. As a former senior White House official remarked, Trump’s belief is that the stakes are too high to sit back and wait for his formal inauguration. He views situations like hostage crises as immediate problems to be solved, not matters to be delayed by protocol. That’s why even as a president-elect, he’s not afraid to make waves. “He’s already basically running things, and he’s not even president yet,” said this former official.
It’s not just about personality; it’s also about practicality. In previous years, presidents have typically kept their distance from international matters until they formally take office. Trump, however, has always had a penchant for plunging into the issues of the moment. Whether it was pressuring Carrier to keep jobs in Indiana before his 2016 inauguration or taking aim at Boeing’s plans for new Air Force One planes, Trump has shown that he’s not afraid to make bold decisions right out of the gate. His determination to move quickly and get things done, no matter the timing, stands as a hallmark of his approach. "This is not a guy who is concerned about traditions, norms, etc.," said Sean Spicer, Trump’s former press secretary. "He’s a guy who wants to get stuff done.”
However, not everyone is in agreement about the effectiveness of this approach. Some Republicans question whether Trump’s hard-nosed style works in the long run. When Trump warned he would impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China unless they cracked down on migration and drug flows at the U.S. border, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flew down to Mar-a-Lago to meet with Trump. While it might have been seen as an effort to prevent further escalation, some observers, including a Republican senator, believed that Trump humiliated Trudeau in the process. The senator, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed concerns about the negative impact this spectacle could have on Canadian-American relations, noting that Canada has been a strong ally and that it could backfire politically for Trudeau, especially ahead of his own re-election bid.
At the same time, Trump’s more aggressive tactics may actually play into Biden’s broader international goals. Biden’s team has been working to bring hostages home from Gaza in exchange for a ceasefire, and Trump’s forceful social media post about “hell to pay” if the hostages weren’t freed by Inauguration Day could be seen as an added pressure to help bring the crisis to a close. While Biden may not publicly approve of Trump’s methods, it’s possible that Trump’s actions inadvertently support Biden’s objectives.
Historically, the idea that a president-elect should defer to the sitting president on foreign policy is grounded in law. In 1936, the Supreme Court ruled that the sitting president is the sole authority when it comes to international relations. This concept reflects the constitutional desire for a unified voice to represent the U.S. on the global stage. Barbara Perry, a professor at the University of Virginia, explained that the Founding Fathers wanted the nation to speak with a single voice, and that voice is intended to be the current president. There are, however, potential risks associated with a president-elect intervening in international issues before officially taking office. For example, if Trump’s comments on the hostage situation led to disastrous consequences, like the hostages being executed, it would raise questions about accountability and responsibility.
Despite these potential pitfalls, history shows that presidents-elect often struggle to remain passive when it comes to issues that will soon land on their desks. Dwight D. Eisenhower traveled to Korea before his 1953 inauguration to assess the war firsthand and meet with South Korean leaders, which ultimately shaped his decision to push for peace in the region. Similarly, Barack Obama, in the midst of a global financial crisis in 2008, took a selective approach to engaging in issues before officially taking office. He declined to attend a meeting of world leaders on the economic downturn hosted by George W. Bush, but did advocate for extending unemployment benefits, showing his inclination to engage on domestic issues in real-time.
As Trump navigates these issues, some argue that his unorthodox style gives him an edge. Newt Gingrich, a longtime ally of Trump, believes that Trump’s approach has positioned him as a "presumptive president" in the eyes of foreign governments. "Given the weakness of the current president and the speed at which things develop in the modern world, Trump is, in effect, a presumptive president," Gingrich stated. Indeed, many world leaders seem to treat Trump as if he’s already back in the White House, a testament to the influence he still wields even before his official return.
In the coming weeks, Trump’s moves will continue to make headlines, as he dives into pressing global issues and strengthens his political presence. Whether his actions help or hinder his political prospects remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Donald Trump is not the type to sit back and wait for his official term to begin.
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