The Impact of Trump’s Second Term: Analyzing Global and Domestic Trends

Introduction

As Donald Trump serves his second presidential term in 2025, observable trends warrant examination across various sectors.

FAF analyzes the currently available data regarding Trump’s influence on global conservative movements, major corporations, American institutions, and international reputation - painting a complex picture of challenges across multiple fronts.

The Shifting Global Conservative Landscape

Once seen as a driving force for right-wing populist movements worldwide, Donald Trump’s influence on international conservative politics appears to be evolving unexpectedly.

What was previously described as a “Trump bump” for conservatives globally is showing signs of becoming a liability in certain countries.

From Asset to Liability

Recent elections in Canada have demonstrated a potential “Trump effect,” in which the conservative opposition saw its commanding lead diminish.

The Conservatives had held a strong 45% to 22% advantage over the governing Liberals earlier in 2025, but this advantage eroded significantly as election day approached.

This pattern has raised questions about whether Australia might experience similar dynamics in their May 3rd election, with observers noting that conservative politicians who had previously embraced Trumpian rhetoric are now reassessing their approach.

The phenomenon extends beyond English-speaking countries:

In France, right-wing nationalist leader Le Pen now views association with Trump as potentially detrimental to her political future

German conservative leader Friedrich Merz has emerged as a significant critic of Trump’s policies toward NATO and Ukraine

Even conservative leaders who maintain relationships with Trump, like Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, appear to be cultivating a middle path that balances political realities

One analysis notes: “In countries where anti-Trump sentiments are widespread, conservative parties may distance themselves from Trumpian tropes or policies.”

This represents a marked shift from the early perception that Trump’s return would universally strengthen conservative movements globally.

Corporate Performance Under Trump’s Second Term

Major American corporations have reported challenging financial results in recent quarters, though the direct connection to Trump policies remains complex.

McDonald’s: Mixed Results

McDonald’s Corporation’s fourth quarter and year-end 2024 results are mixed. While global comparable sales increased by 0.4%, U.S. sales decreased by 1.4%.

The company reported that systemwide sales increased by 2%, but consolidated operating income decreased by 2% when excluding certain charges.

These results come despite the company achieving over $130 billion in global systemwide sales for the year.

Starbucks: Significant Challenges

Starbucks has faced more pronounced difficulties, with its preliminary Q4 fiscal year 2024 results showing a 7% decline in global comparable store sales and a 3% decline in consolidated net revenues to $9.1 billion.

The company explicitly attributed these challenges to “softness in North America’s revenues,” with comparable store sales in the U.S. declining 6%.

Their accelerated investments and marketing efforts “did not improve customer behaviors,” resulting in lower-than-expected performance.

Tesla: Stock Volatility

Tesla’s stock has experienced significant volatility, with its share price at $287.21 as of recent reporting - substantially below its all-time high of $479.86, reached on December 17, 2024.

The company recorded a -28.88% annual percentage change for 2025, a stark reversal from the 62.52% gain in 2024.

This downturn comes despite Tesla’s dominant position in the U.S. electric vehicle market, where it maintains approximately 70% market share.

American Education System: Challenges and Changes

The American education system faces dual pressures concerning academic performance trends and significant policy shifts under the Trump administration.

Academic Performance Indicators

The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results revealed troubling trends in student achievement.

The average reading score for fourth graders declined by two points compared to 2022 and five points compared to 2019.

Fourth-grade mathematics results improved compared to 2022, but fourth- and eighth-grade scores remained lower than 2019 pre-pandemic levels.

Particularly concerning is that one-third of eighth and forty percent of fourth graders scored below the ‘basic’ benchmark on reading tests.

A fourth grader scoring below basic might struggle with fundamental skills like determining the main idea of an informational text.

Trump Administration Education Policies

Simultaneously, the Trump administration has implemented significant policy changes in education:

President Trump signed an executive order to promote artificial intelligence integration in K-12 schools, mandating several federal agencies to prioritize AI education and training

The administration has directed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to significantly reduce the size of the Department of Education, laying off approximately half its workers and cutting millions from education research, teacher training programs, and other projects

Trump established a White House Task Force on AI Education chaired by Michael Kratsios to spearhead a “Presidential AI Challenge” and develop AI infrastructure in American classrooms

These policy changes address persistent achievement gaps between demographic groups and declining reading proficiency nationally.

The Judiciary Under Pressure

Trump’s approach to the American judicial system represents one of his most consequential impacts, both during his first term and his second presidency.

Unprecedented Judicial Transformation

During his first term, Trump appointed 234 federal judges, including three Supreme Court justices-Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett-which shifted the judiciary significantly rightward.

These appointments were made with unprecedented speed, mainly by ignoring widely accepted norms for judicial appointments.

Escalating Tensions in 2025

The relationship between the Trump administration and the judiciary has deteriorated further in 2025.

Just two months into his second term, the administration has “aggressively challenged judicial constraints on its power, risking a showdown-and constitutional crisis-in which the executive branch seeks to make court orders optional.”

This confrontational approach has included:

The executive branch defying a federal judge’s order to halt deportations to El Salvador temporarily

Trump personally called for the impeachment of judges who issued rulings against his policies

A federal judge described Trump’s executive order to overturn birthright citizenship as “blatantly unconstitutional.”

These actions have resulted in at least 139 legal cases against the Trump administration within the first two months of his second term.

America’s Shifting Global Reputation

Under Trump's leadership, the global perception of the United States shows a marked divide between traditional allies and other nations.

European Disillusionment

European attitudes toward the United States have declined since Trump’s return to office.

A February 2025 YouGov poll spanning seven European countries revealed that favorable views of America had fallen by 6 and 28 percentage points following Trump’s second inauguration.

The pollsters noted that “in Great Britain, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, and Italy, these are the lowest figures for USA favourability since we began tracking this question.”

The decline is particularly pronounced in Scandinavian countries, with only 20% of Danes and 29% of Swedes holding favorable views of the U.S.

Even in traditionally strong allied nations like Germany, France, and the UK, only about a third of citizens maintained positive perceptions of America.

Contrasting Perspectives

Interestingly, the reaction in some non-Western countries differs significantly.

A November 2024 poll by the European Council on Foreign Relations found that majorities in countries like Brazil, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey viewed Trump’s election positively.

This appears connected to expectations that Trump would transform the United States into a “normal” great power with transactional foreign policies that would allow other nations to thrive in a multipolar system.

Religious Tensions in American Christianity

Trump’s second term has intensified theological divisions within American Christianity, revealing competing visions for the role of faith in politics and governance.

Competing Christian Narratives

The Trump administration has established an “anti-Christian-bias task force” chaired by Attorney General Pam Bondi, positioning itself as a defender of Christian faith.

House Speaker Mike Johnson claimed, “There has almost always been an outright hostility that is shown towards people of the Christian faith”.

However, this stance has generated significant pushback from diverse Christian voices who argue that the administration’s policies contradict core biblical values.

Critics note the irony that “Trump, Johnson, and the people with them in the top echelons of power are targeting those that the Bible is most concerned about-children, the poor, immigrants, the sick and disabled, women, the vulnerable, and the earth itself”.

Faith-Based Opposition

This theological divide has manifested in concrete opposition:

Twenty-seven religious groups have sued the Trump administration for what they consider infringement of their religious liberty to serve immigrant communities

Episcopal Bishop Marian Budde, after urging Trump to show mercy toward immigrants and LGBTQ+ people at the Inaugural Prayer Service, has received “regular and credible death threats on a daily basis”

Pope Francis himself has weighed in, writing to America’s bishops that true common good requires welcoming, protecting, promoting, and integrating “the most fragile, unprotected and vulnerable”

This indicates what one observer calls “a battle of theologies” where Trump’s version of Christian nationalism conflicts with alternative interpretations of Christian tradition that emphasize care for marginalized communities.

Conclusion

The early evidence from Donald Trump’s second term reveals an administration generating significant tensions across multiple domains.

The once-beneficial “Trump bump” for conservative movements globally appears to be transforming into a potential liability in various electoral contexts.

Major American corporations are reporting mixed or negative results, though direct causation remains difficult to establish.

American institutions like education and the judiciary face significant challenges and transformations, while the nation’s global standing shows a marked divide between Western allies and other powers.

Perhaps most striking is how these trends reflect deep divisions within American society itself, exemplified by the theological battles being waged under religious banners.

As Trump’s second term proceeds, these dynamics bear continued monitoring to assess their long-term implications for both domestic and international stability.