The President of United States Donald Trump is known for his international relations, tariffs, Ukraine, Iran, Venezuela, and so on. He has been portrayed by the media as capricious, unpredictable and almost unstable. However, this is a perspective and a part of the story. As Indian-American, I have been following Trump as a successful businessman long before he became the President. In fact, before he entered politics, he was asked about his views on American economy and governance. What he said then 20 years ago, he is saying the same now and pursuing those ideas.

For instance, he had said that he would welcome skilled people from across the world to come to America and contribute to its prosperity which may then spill over to its friends and allies. He was strictly opposed to illegal migrants who become a burden on American society. The migrants coming on donkeys through Mexican border and goods vehicles are not a good trend. He was conscious of a long porous border with Mexico. As soon as he became the President, he started building fence across that border.
Donald Trump talked about dilution of discipline and decline of values in American society. The campuses in the colleges and universities were turned into hotbed of political intrigues, reckless protests and ideological nurseries. That was not good for USA and the rest of the world as many students from all over the world come to study in US. He began to defund such institutions which did not reform and reflect the image of United States as a liberal democracy with political standards and social norms.
This article emerges out of a conversation with youths and students in a study circle organised by Schumacher Society Delhi. The topic for the conversation was ‘understanding Trump – the man and his behaviour’. I was asked by the organisers to explain the personal side of President Donald Trump. They perhaps believed in the maxim that the policies pursued by a leader are often a reflection of his personal beliefs and behaviour. So in the following, I talk about some of the personal traits of Donald Trump that I have learnt as a citizen of United States and admirer of Donald Trump as a leader.
To start with, Donald Trump like anyone else is a product of the environment he grew up in. He had a strict father who sent him to military school to instil discipline in the young Donald. He grew up in a tough city like New York. He worked with his father in construction with union workers. New Yorkers are rough, tough and abrasive people.
He is family oriented. He loved his parents and all his siblings. He cohesively integrated his diverse family from different wives. He instilled the habit of no drink, no smoking, and no tattoos in his children. His alcoholic brother perhaps influenced Donald Trump to turn against drinks. Few people know that Donald Trump, an American is a teetotaller.
Let me share a bit his charitable side: before he was President, when he realised that no special plane was available, Trump sent his personal plane in 1991 to bring Nelson Mandela to US. He has paid off numerous peoples’ medical bills, grocery purchases, home loans, education fees etc. Not just for Mandela, he has sent his private plane several times to pick up sick children to bring them to New York for treatment. He came forward and rebuilt the Ice Rink in Central Park after the city tried for six years and spent millions of dollars.
Another sensitive aspect of his personal conduct as a President is not known to the outside world. He does not take his presidential salary. He sends it to different charities. He personally gave 1m USD to flood victims in Texas and Louisiana. He annually gives his personal aids $44,000 each for their holidays. The Trump family holds charity, fund-raisers for children’s cures.
Trump is an innovator paving the way to the future of politics, “the first true social media president”. He has always adapted to the times, using new technology and platforms to take his message straight to the public. Let me now cite some Government initiatives that he has done. The first innovative step he took was creating DOGE - Department of Government Efficiency. The purpose was to establish a body by an executive order to modernize federal technology, cut wasteful spending, and reduce government bureaucracy. It was temporary but achieved its mission. Trump believes in smaller government.
The other initiatives included: deregulation in environment, tax reform, health reform. Trump is a big believer in oil and fossil fuels for cheap American energy. He is always looking to assist the farmers. He reformed the USA-Canada and Mexico Trade Agreement. He has worked to bring heavy industries back to America. Also, he has secured the border and tightened immigration. The change that caught the attention in the world and made it a bit controversial in Europe is making NATO pay its fair share.
He is a big believer in the military and the police. He has utmost respect to the police. President Trump was a political outsider in his first term. He did not hold any office before becoming the President. He learnt valuable lessons and came back stronger in his second term. He surrounded himself with loyalists.
He is a patriot and a nationalist and wants America to prosper and always remain number one -militarily and economically: hence MAGA – Making America Great Again. As he famously said, ‘ladies and gentlemen, we have nothing to worry about as we hold all the cards”. In voting for Mr. Trump, I knew we were not electing the Pope.
He understands that America is in the business of big business and it needs a businessman to run this country. He will be the greatest and most consequential President of America. President Donald Trump’s stance on India is defined by a highly transactional approach, blending strong strategic defense alignment with sharp economic and tariff pressures. Alas! India could grasp that Trump is a deal-maker. The only book he has written even before he became the President is called ‘Trump: The Art of the Deal’. I say this as I was born and grew up as a daughter of Air Force officer before migrating to USA. I wish to see both democracies working in partnership for greater good.

Email:-------------------------------dr.dkgiri@gmail.com