January 20, 2025 – January 26, 2025 | Vol.15, #04
Event: On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the U.S.[1][2] Trump was re-elected to serve a second term in office in November 2024. [3][4]
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Analysis
A closer reading of the Sinhala print, TV and social media discourse surfaced two sentiments on President Trump’s second term in office.[1]
Sentiment I: Admiration
On his first day in office, Trump signed over 40 executive orders, proclamations and memoranda, earning admiration from the Sinhala media as being a man of action.
While acknowledging the potential negative consequences of the policies themselves, Sinhala newspapers portrayed Trump as a decisive leader fulfilling his promises.[2]
The Sinhala media’s admiration for Trump’s decisive actions suggests a currency in Sri Lanka for a strong leader capable of delivering on public expectations. In the lead-up to the presidential elections of Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2019 and Anura Kumara Dissanayake in 2024, the Sinhala media advocated for leadership qualities in a Sri Lankan president similar to those it admires in President Trump.[3]
Critics of the government, such as former MP Champika Ranawaka, contrasted Trump’s decisive actions in the first four days in office with the slow pace at which the NPP government has been delivering on expectations since assuming power.[4]
Sentiment II: Anxiety
The Sinhala media also conveyed a sense of anxiety regarding the implications of Trump’s presidency for Sri Lanka. These are related to wide-ranging policies that have been signalled by Trump, including the slashing of foreign aid, the withdrawal from the World Health Organisation, the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and the targeted increase in border tariffs.
The Sinhala media framed Trump’s policies as potentially having negative ramifications for Sri Lanka’s economy and management of foreign policy. The anxiety stemmed from questions about whether the Sri Lankan government could manage its foreign policy and economic dealings with the U.S., while also balancing its relations with India and China.
[1] The MPA team monitored Facebook profiles, TikTok handles and YouTube channels using Junkipedia for the keyword Trump. The monitoring period was January 20 to 24, 2025.
[2] For more information, see: https://time.com/7208691/trump-day-one-presidential-actions-executive-orders-memorandum-proclamation-explainer/ and https://www.axios.com/2025/01/21/president-donald-trump-executive-orders-list.
[3] See TMA Vol.09, #30.
[4] For more information, see: https://web.facebook.com/watch/?v=1693076291275028 and https://web.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1150517740414708&set=a.715627480570405.
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