Join us in this discussion to unpack the wild ride of Trump’s second term and what’s next on the political rollercoaster.

One year into Donald Trump’s second presidency, The Australian National University will host a timely panel examining what Trump 2.0 means for American democracy and the international order.

Has the United States entered a period of democratic backsliding, or are its institutions proving more resilient than critics expected? How has public opinion outside the US shifted in response to Trump’s return—and what does that mean for America’s alliances and global standing? The panel will also explore the emerging concept of “neo-royalism” in diplomacy, considering whether contemporary statecraft is becoming more personalised, transactional, and leader-centric.

Finally, the discussion will unpack competing visions of American grand strategy within the Trump administration itself, highlighting tensions between different foreign policy figures over America's key global interests.

Bringing together leading scholars of politics and international relations, this event offers a rigorous and wide-ranging assessment of the first year of Trump’s second term and its implications for Australia and the wider world.

The panel will feature Dr Charles Miller, Professor Ben Goldsmith, Associate Professor Jana von Stein and Associate Professor David Smith from the US Studies Centre.