Decade After Trump's Run, U.S. Politics Transformed

Ten years after Donald Trump announced his presidential bid by descending a golden escalator, his unconventional and populist approach has fundamentally altered American politics. Initially dismissed as a publicity stunt, Trump's rise from reality TV star to president surprised many and deeply polarized the nation, with his leadership style fueling a politics of grievance and personal vendetta. His tenure reshaped the Republican Party and normalized once-shocking rhetoric, while also mobilizing previously disengaged voters and redefining presidential influence. The decade since his announcement has sparked ongoing debate over his impact, with supporters hailing him as a consequential leader and critics decrying increased division and toxicity in national discourse. Editorials and retrospectives now question whether the country can or should return to its pre-Trump political trajectory. Trump remains a central and polarizing figure in American public life.