Are we entering a new era? In five days’ time, Joe Biden will leave the White House, to be replaced by Donald Trump. Some experts think he brings a whole new century with him.
Trump prepares for power as 'Sun King'
Are we entering a new era? In five days' time, Joe Biden will leave the White House, to be replaced by Donald Trump. Some experts think he brings a whole new century with him.
There are those who think the Americans have always yearned for a king. CongressThe legislative branch of the American government, where elected representatives vote on which laws should be passed. Congress is made up of two chambers: the Senate, which contains two members from each of the 50 states, and the House of Representatives, which has representatives from 435 smaller districts. once even proposed the president should be addressed as "His Elective Majesty".1
Now, 250 years later, some think the US has its first president-monarch in Donald Trump.
In an absolute monarchy, like that of Louis XIVA 17th-Century French king who expanded the powers of the French monarchy and turned his country into the greatest power in the world. However, by the end of his long, 72-year reign he had squandered much of this advantage. of France, the Sun King, all power comes from closeness to the king. Those from the nobilityThe aristocracy, or the highest social rank. who want power must flatter and manipulateTo control or influence something or someone so that you get an advantage, often unfairly or dishonestly. him.
Today, it is the billionaire class trying to gain royal favour. Amazon's Jeff BezosThe founder of Amazon and one of the world's richest people. has donated $1m (£822,000) towards Trump's inaugurationThe introduction of a new system, or the formal ceremony introducing someone to office (most noticeably the US president). .2
Meanwhile, Mark ZuckerbergSince founding Facebook as a university student, Zuckerberg has become one of the top ten richest people in the world. of MetaThe new name of the company which owns Facebook and Instagram. has announced a stark right-wingSometimes referred to as 'conservative', this is a range of political beliefs that emphasise the value of tradition, individual freedom and responsibility, low taxes and a hands-off approach to government. shift in his company's governance.3 Most observers think this is an effort to gain Trump's favour by adopting his ideas.
Louis also angered his nobles by raising low-born outsiders to positions of trust and authority.
In the same way, Trump has hired people from outside the traditional hierarchy of the Republican PartyAlso known as the Grand Old Party or GOP, it is one of the USA's two major political parties. Its first president was Abraham Lincoln. It sits on the right of the political spectrum., most notably Elon MuskA South African-born entrepreneur whose companies have included the online payment service PayPal. He now controls Twitter, renamed 'X'..
Yet the favour of a king, once lost, is lost forever, as Louis XIV's first finance minister, Nicolas Fouquet, found out when he was arrested without warning and sentenced to life imprisonment.4 Some wonder if Musk will go the same way.
All of which suggests, for certain experts, that we are at the end of an era. They say until now we have been living in the "long 20th Century", which actually began in the late 1800s.
This period was marked by the growth of democraciesCountries which have a system of government based on the idea of rule by the people., more globalisationThe growing interdependence of the world's economies, peoples and cultures. and the free flows of trade.
Instead, the 21st Century is a time of elite rulers, far-rightA range of ideologies that emphasise social order, racial purity and the elimination of opponents. politics, closed borders and trade wars.
But others say none of this is new. Trump is simply more honest about how he does business.
Are we entering a new era?
Yes: The world has always moved through different eras. Its long age of internationalism and democracy is over. Trump is ushering in a new reactionaryOpposed to new political ideas or social change. era.
No: The "liberal, open" age never existed for most of the world. This is simply the west ending up in the same boat as the Global SouthA term increasingly used to describe less-developed countries, most of which are south of a line that separates, on different continents, the USA from Mexico, Europe from Africa, and Russia from central Asia and China.: elite rulers, closed economies and conservativeHolding traditional values, and in a political context, favouring policies such as private ownership. societies.
Or... The question of when one age ends and another begins is always up for debate. But there is no doubt that Trump's return to power is a huge moment in history.
Congress - The legislative branch of the American government, where elected representatives vote on which laws should be passed. Congress is made up of two chambers: the Senate, which contains two members from each of the 50 states, and the House of Representatives, which has representatives from 435 smaller districts.
Louis XIV - A 17th-Century French king who expanded the powers of the French monarchy and turned his country into the greatest power in the world. However, by the end of his long, 72-year reign he had squandered much of this advantage.
Nobility - The aristocracy, or the highest social rank.
Manipulate - To control or influence something or someone so that you get an advantage, often unfairly or dishonestly.
Jeff Bezos - The founder of Amazon and one of the world's richest people.
Inauguration - The introduction of a new system, or the formal ceremony introducing someone to office (most noticeably the US president).
Mark Zuckerberg - Since founding Facebook as a university student, Zuckerberg has become one of the top ten richest people in the world.
Meta - The new name of the company which owns Facebook and Instagram.
Right-wing - Sometimes referred to as 'conservative', this is a range of political beliefs that emphasise the value of tradition, individual freedom and responsibility, low taxes and a hands-off approach to government.
Republican Party - Also known as the Grand Old Party or GOP, it is one of the USA's two major political parties. Its first president was Abraham Lincoln. It sits on the right of the political spectrum.
Elon Musk - A South African-born entrepreneur whose companies have included the online payment service PayPal. He now controls Twitter, renamed 'X'.
Democracies - Countries which have a system of government based on the idea of rule by the people.
Globalisation - The growing interdependence of the world's economies, peoples and cultures.
Far-right - A range of ideologies that emphasise social order, racial purity and the elimination of opponents.
Reactionary - Opposed to new political ideas or social change.
Global South - A term increasingly used to describe less-developed countries, most of which are south of a line that separates, on different continents, the USA from Mexico, Europe from Africa, and Russia from central Asia and China.
Conservative - Holding traditional values, and in a political context, favouring policies such as private ownership.
Trump prepares for power as ‘Sun King’

Glossary
Congress - The legislative branch of the American government, where elected representatives vote on which laws should be passed. Congress is made up of two chambers: the Senate, which contains two members from each of the 50 states, and the House of Representatives, which has representatives from 435 smaller districts.
Louis XIV - A 17th-Century French king who expanded the powers of the French monarchy and turned his country into the greatest power in the world. However, by the end of his long, 72-year reign he had squandered much of this advantage.
Nobility - The aristocracy, or the highest social rank.
Manipulate - To control or influence something or someone so that you get an advantage, often unfairly or dishonestly.
Jeff Bezos - The founder of Amazon and one of the world's richest people.
Inauguration - The introduction of a new system, or the formal ceremony introducing someone to office (most noticeably the US president).
Mark Zuckerberg - Since founding Facebook as a university student, Zuckerberg has become one of the top ten richest people in the world.
Meta - The new name of the company which owns Facebook and Instagram.
Right-wing - Sometimes referred to as 'conservative', this is a range of political beliefs that emphasise the value of tradition, individual freedom and responsibility, low taxes and a hands-off approach to government.
Republican Party - Also known as the Grand Old Party or GOP, it is one of the USA's two major political parties. Its first president was Abraham Lincoln. It sits on the right of the political spectrum.
Elon Musk - A South African-born entrepreneur whose companies have included the online payment service PayPal. He now controls Twitter, renamed 'X'.
Democracies - Countries which have a system of government based on the idea of rule by the people.
Globalisation - The growing interdependence of the world's economies, peoples and cultures.
Far-right - A range of ideologies that emphasise social order, racial purity and the elimination of opponents.
Reactionary - Opposed to new political ideas or social change.
Global South - A term increasingly used to describe less-developed countries, most of which are south of a line that separates, on different continents, the USA from Mexico, Europe from Africa, and Russia from central Asia and China.
Conservative - Holding traditional values, and in a political context, favouring policies such as private ownership.