Ford to Musk, and the business of power

In the world of investment banking, there's an adage - "Insult is an investment." The idea is simple - those who are underestimated and ignored often end up making the most successful moves, purchasing stocks at a lower price before the crowd catches on. In political terms, this strategy mirrors how Donald Trump, after being insulted and sidelined following the 2020 election, has managed to turn his defeat into a powerful comeback.

- SANTHOSH MATTHEW

In the world of investment banking, there's an adage - "Insult is an investment." The idea is simple - those who are underestimated and ignored often end up making the most successful moves, purchasing stocks at a lower price before the crowd catches on. In political terms, this strategy mirrors how Donald Trump, after being insulted and sidelined following the 2020 election, has managed to turn his defeat into a powerful comeback. By leveraging the insults thrown his way, Trump has positioned himself as a major player in global politics once again, transforming public ridicule into political currency.

But Trump's resurgence isn't just a matter of political savvy - it's also about alliances, the kind that transcend national borders and redefine power structures. One such alliance is his relationship with Vladimir Putin, which, when examined through a historical lens, resembles the complex political alliances of the past. Trump's approach to Putin could be seen as a trump card of sorts. Just as the USSR was pulled into the Afghan War under Gorbachev and fractured into pieces, Trump seems poised to deconstruct the global balance of power.

His policies, notably those in the Middle East and his contentious approach to NATO, have created a situation where the US now faces a $36 trillion debt, with Trump eyeing a future where the US might break apart - transforming the "50 stars" on the flag into 51 states, while Israel's role in the growing China-Russia-Iran alliance (CRI) could eventually lead to the destruction of Iran. A new world order under autocratic rule, with Putin at the helm, is a scenario that increasingly seems possible.