When Donald Trump was first elected president in 2016, he was a shock outsider. Few expected the businessman to take the nation’s top job, and many questioned his ability to lead. By the time he left office four years later, Trump had become a pariah to many, facing fierce criticism and political enemies.
But as he gears up for a second term in January 2025, the 78-year-old Republican is now the most popular person in America among the powerful elite.
In a recent interview at his luxury Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump reflected on the shift in public perception. “In the first term, everyone was fighting me. In this term, everybody wants to be my friend,” he said, with a smile. “I don’t know, my personality changed or something.”
While Trump’s personality remains unchanged, those who once criticized him are now eager to align themselves with the incoming president. This dramatic shift is reshaping the political landscape, especially among tech tycoons, US politicians, foreign leaders, and even some in the media.
“Right now, it’s better to be on Trump’s good side than to be on the opposite end,” Wendy Schiller, a political science professor at Brown University, explained. “The problem is, his ‘good side’ changes often.”
Tech Giants Turn to Trump
Trump’s influence is growing not just in political circles but also in the tech industry. Top CEOs of major tech companies have been lining up to visit him at Mar-a-Lago, making it clear that they want to rebuild relationships with the incoming administration.
In November, Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, visited Trump, hoping to mend ties after Facebook banned Trump following the January 6 Capitol riot. Apple CEO Tim Cook, Google’s Sundar Pichai, and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos have also made their way to Florida to meet with the former president.
“There’s a major shift happening,” Trump remarked. “In the first term, I was treated like an outsider. Now, everyone’s coming to me.”
In fact, tech leaders are not just visiting Trump—they are investing in his inauguration. Meta, Amazon, and OpenAI’s Sam Altman are all reportedly donating $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund. The tech titans’ change of heart signals a broader shift in how the elite view Trump’s return to power.
Global Leaders Align with Trump
Trump’s return is also being welcomed by world leaders. In the past, Trump’s foreign policy was often criticized, but now, many leaders are seeking to secure their place in his future administration.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a long-time Trump ally, has been among the first to congratulate him. Even Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who faced Trump’s threats of hefty tariffs, has reached out to the former president in a bid to ensure a smooth relationship going forward.
This political landscape shift is not limited to the US. The powerful and influential from around the globe have been keen to court favor with Trump, knowing that his influence on world affairs is about to be rekindled.
Republicans Fall in Line
Even within the United States, Trump’s power is becoming undeniable. The Republican Party, once divided on Trump’s future, is now largely falling in line with his agenda.
Many Republicans in Congress have softened their stance, easing opposition to controversial cabinet picks like Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the vaccine skeptic chosen as health secretary.
Trump made it clear that loyalty would be a major theme in his second term, warning that any Republican who strays from his direction could face election challenges by party loyalists.
As Trump prepares to return to the White House, his position of power is more solid than ever, with the political establishment seeming to fall into place behind him.
The Media’s New Approach
Perhaps one of the most surprising shifts is in the media’s approach to Trump. Once branded the “enemy of the people” by the former president, many journalists and media personalities have now been making the trek to Mar-a-Lago.
Notably, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, hosts of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” visited Trump in November, despite their previous vocal criticism of him. The pair was not alone—many other journalists have started to build bridges with the incoming president.
As political commentator Michelle Goldberg noted in The New York Times, “The Great Capitulation” is underway. The media’s pivot reflects the broader shift in America’s political climate, where Trump’s influence is undeniable.
A Warning for Opponents
While Trump is seeing a surge of support, his critics are in for a tough ride. This week, Trump filed lawsuits against a pollster and a newspaper after they published survey results showing him trailing in Iowa—a state he ultimately won by a landslide.
Trump has made it clear that he will use the power of the presidency to go after anyone who challenges him.
“He understands the full power of the presidency now,” Schiller explained. “And he’s ready to use it.”
As Trump prepares for his second term, the shift in American politics is clear. From tech giants to foreign leaders, everyone seems eager to align with the man who will soon return to the Oval Office.
