(Editor's Note: The following opinion column does not constitute an endorsement of any political party or candidate on the part of Newsmax.)
Donald Trump’s first presidency marked a sharp break from a system that had led to unrepresentative elites acting in ways that ran counter to the interests of the common citizen.
Trump rose as a defense mechanism for the forgotten Americans who were tired of being unheard and left behind. His presidency symbolized a shift in American politics, highlighting a crisis in Western representation, where elites no longer reflected the people.
Trump understood that this crisis of representation was the fundamental issue, from which concerns like illegal immigration and the economic model derived. His focus on common-sense policies emboldened conservative movements globally, allowing them to challenge left-wing ideas that had, for decades, reshaped academia, culture, and governance.
Under Trump’s leadership, the U.S. experienced significant economic growth due to conservative policies. His administration’s commitment to deregulation, tax cuts, and energy independence fueled economic dynamism, with unemployment reaching historic lows, particularly for minorities, and wages rising for the first time in years.
American manufacturing, which had been in decline for decades, showed signs of revival as Trump renegotiated NAFTA into the USMCA, benefiting American workers and businesses alike.
The “America First” policy recognized that American strength is essential to global stability. Trump is not an isolationist! With him, the U.S. was engaged in world affairs in a substantial way, leading to world peace.
He recognized and found the right balance between the need for American involvement abroad and the request of American citizens for transparency and prudence.
A second term for Trump would allow him to complete the job he began, reinstating economic prosperity and energy independence — key factors in reducing inflation and securing U.S. leadership in a world increasingly reliant on unreliable sources like Russia. Continuing the push for tax reform and deregulation would further ignite the economy, signaling to all that those conservative policies work — something that the left tries hard to impede.
Trump’s foreign policy embraced "peace through strength." The Abraham Accords — a series of normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab nations — were a historic breakthrough in the Middle East, a region plagued by instability.
These agreements marked a new era of cooperation and economic opportunity, with countries like the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco setting aside decades of hostility toward Israel. Trump achieved what many thought impossible: fostering peace in a region where war was seen as inevitable.
His maximum-pressure strategy against Iran also kept a key adversary in check.
On NATO, Trump strengthened the alliance by insisting that Europe shoulder more of its defense burden, reinforcing the principle of collective defense. This approach has since proven essential, with Europe increasingly recognizing the need for a true partnership with the U.S.
His administration’s approach to China was also groundbreaking — Trump was the first president to grasp the full threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party, both economically and geopolitically. His realism and strength in foreign policy will be crucial as global tensions with China, Russia, and Iran escalate.
A second Trump term would help stabilize a world once again in turmoil. With Russia waging war in Ukraine and China aggressively expanding in the Indo-Pacific, Trump’s leadership would reassert America’s role as a defender of peace, without the costly and ineffective military interventions of previous administrations.
His balanced approach offered a powerful alternative: strong American presence without constant military engagement.
We in Albania saw Trump’s denunciation of communism and authoritarian regimes as a vital stand for our region. Trump’s peace-through-strength policy and calls for a stronger NATO were exactly what our region needed to counter ongoing threats.
His commitment to fighting wokeism is essential to us as well, as it helps protect our societies and families from ideologies we’ve seen erode traditional values elsewhere. As a people who endured half a century of communism, we understand the left’s new tactics worldwide, and we look to Trump’s conservative policies for hope, democracy and stability.
Perhaps the most important task for a second Trump administration is restoring faith in American institutions.
Many perceive that American bureaucrats and diplomats are no longer serving the national interest but rather those of specific lobbies pushing far-left agendas. In some cases, they interfere in other countries, claiming to act on behalf of the U.S. while advancing divisive ideologies and sometimes even succumbing to corruption, harming both American interests and the nations affected.
The importance of a second Trump term goes beyond America’s borders. A strong, prosperous, and confident U.S. is essential for global stability and democracy. Under Trump, America proved that it could pursue its interests without abandoning allies or shirking responsibilities.
His foreign policy of strength, paired with an economic revival at home, would provide a needed counterweight to the authoritarian regimes now challenging the world order.
Trump’s presidency marked the beginning of a new era, one in which American sovereignty, economic strength, and global leadership were restored. A second term would complete that transformation, securing a future of freedom, prosperity, and security not just for America but for the world.
Nikola Kedhi, Chairman of the Board of the Albanian Policy Center. Read more of his reports — here.