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[COMMENTARY] Jokowi must not be tempted to follow Trump's lead
In a divided Indonesia, Jokowi is always right or wrong
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![[COMMENTARY] Jokowi must not be tempted to follow Trump's lead](https://img.jakpost.net/c/2021/01/20/2021_01_20_110006_1611148741._large.jpg)
Former US President Donald Trump waves as he boards Marine One at the White House in Washington, DC, on Wednesday. President Trump travels his Mar-a-Lago golf club residence in Palm Beach, Florida, and will not attend the inauguration for President Joe Biden. (Agence France Presse/Mandel Ngan)
S
ome world leaders, either from advanced or developing countries, not excluding Indonesia, one day may be eager to emulate former United States president Donald Trump, who brilliantly manipulated his fanatical followers to do whatever he wanted, even if it put their own lives at risk. Even though Trump legitimately lost the election, his die-hard supporters still believe he is an innocent victim of election fraud.
To be honest, initially I was reluctant to believe that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo would feel tempted to take advantage of millions of his loyal supporters, who are not prepared to follow any leader other than Jokowi. The urge to run again may arise when his second five-year term draws to a close in October 2024.
Trump is slated to take his final flight on Air Force One to Florida just a few hours before Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are sworn in as the 46th president and 49th vice president of the US respectively at the Capitol. Traditionally, new presidents send off their predecessor at the Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, but Trump refused to follow the ritual.
US history will likely immortalize Trump as the superpower’s worst president ever. But for more than 74 million American citizens who voted for him in the Nov. 3, 2020, election, Trump will remain a messiah.
The inauguration of the new US president and vice president on Wednesday was conducted in a war zone-like atmosphere. In the past, security was tightened to prevent foreign terrorist attacks, but now terror threats look to come from home.
Biden will inherit a chaotic US. More than 400,000 Americans have lost their lives to COVID-19, partly due to Trump’s incompetence. The superpower is losing its power and influence among its foes and most loyal allies. For at least one year, the Biden administration will be preoccupied with its domestic agenda, including managing the fanatical Republicans. So, forget the Indo-Pacific concept at least for a while.
When Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, many Indonesians compared the shameful occupation attempt to the takeover of the House of Representatives by protesters just a few days before Soeharto ended his 32-year dictatorship on May 21, 1998.
