Bremmer: US political shift ends Trump's global dominance

Political scientist Ian Bremmer asserts that the United States has passed the peak of Donald Trump's political influence. In an interview conducted this week, Bremmer, founder of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media, stated that the gap between holding presidential power and using it effectively has never been more apparent. He argues that the president's ability to dominate both domestic and international agendas is ending.

Bremmer cited a major electoral reversal for the governing party as the catalyst for this new political phase. He described the shift as the most consequential loss for a ruling party in more than half a century. "Trump back in 2024 engineered for himself the biggest political comeback in American political history. And now, only two years later, the biggest loss in 50 years," he said.

The analyst clarified that Trump retains formal authority. The president remains commander-in-chief and holds executive instruments while maintaining high media visibility. However, Bremmer argues that his power to convert these advantages into political outcomes is eroding. This decline is driven by congressional opposition, discontent within Republican ranks, and unpopular foreign policy decisions.

International actors are responding to these internal changes. Bremmer noted that allies and adversaries are recalibrating strategies for a post-Trump era. They are focusing on the war in Iran, the unresolved Ukraine conflict, and transatlantic relations. "Those foreign leaders will start to engage more with the America that they expect to deal with after Trump is gone," he said.

Domestic factors are weakening the coalition that returned the president to the White House. Bremmer attributed this to economic disillusionment and unfulfilled electoral promises. He also pointed to accusations of political self-interest and a focus on personal legacy projects. These forces create a gap between political spectacle and the responsibilities of governing.

Bremmer's assessment of the remaining term is blunt. He predicts a lower level of global disruption compared to the start of the current term. "Yes, two more years to go. But nowhere near the level of disruption that he had on the global stage at the beginning of this term," he said.

The interview suggests a president retains formal powers while losing the political authority needed to shape the future. In Bremmer's view, this process of diminishing influence is already underway.