It is, of course, impossible to see intangible things. But sometimes an intangible thing is so vibrant, so pronounced and so real that it is as though it can actually be seen. 

I had that experience. I was in Washington, D.C., for inaugural activities – and saw an intangible thing. This was enthusiasm.  

I saw the beginning of this enthusiasm the moment President Donald Trump was elected. Many people I know – and many more I don’t – reached out to the administration (directly or indirectly) with a question: How can I help? 

The people I know (and presumably those I don’t) are extraordinarily talented – and wanted to move to D.C., immediately, to work for free in whatever capacity where their skills could be most productively deployed. The broad-based coalition that drove Trump to victory, combined with the astonishingly good early appointments, fueled an outburst of ambitious idealism.

This ambitious idealism was essentially visible in the run-up to the inauguration. It was best captured by a visionary thinker and leader in healthcare policy I met at one of the events. He told me that he had been reading books on the New Deal – and explained that learning about the young men who flocked to Washington to work on President Franklin Roosevelt’s massively ambitious agenda was the best way for him to understand what was happening now. 

This enthusiasm was especially marked by the contrast on the Democratic side. There seems to be no enthusiasm for anything there. I cannot think of a single policy, let alone a coherent set of policies, that the Democrats are enthusiastic about now – with the possible exception of abortion, which is now a state issue.  

It is even hard to think of anything they are enthusiastically against now. On the day after Trump’s inauguration in 2017, half a million people came to Washington, D.C., for the ‘Women’s March.’ I wasn’t there this year on Jan 21 – but I did not see a single protest or even protester over the weekend.

Trump’s inaugural address, which articulated views and policies that animated his campaign, spoke of border enforcement, the deportation of illegal immigrants, the elimination of federal government DEI and the recognition that there are only two genders. Even very recently, the mention of any of these things from a Republican office holder was greeted with accusations of racism (even ‘systemic racism’), un-Americanism, transphobia and even comparisons to Nazis.  

Now, seemingly nothing. Perhaps it is because many Democrats now at least appreciate the importance of a strong border, understand that DEI at least can encourage disabling victimization, lead to divisiveness and engender hatred itself, and that the policies from gender confusion can marginalize women and do lasting damage to children caught up in its mania. 

Is enthusiasm, which of course is just a feeling, important? The answer to that question is – like the answer to pretty much all questions – in the Torah. 

In early Exodus, God decides to directly enter history to liberate the Jews from Egyptian slavery and to show the world the truth of ethical monotheism. He could have done so in any way. Yet, he chooses to appear in a burning bush. Ten chapters later, he leads the Jews out of Egypt with a ‘pillar of fire.’

In Deuteronomy 9:3, Moses says we will be prepared to enter the Land when we know ‘that it is the Lord your God who passes before you as a consuming fire.’ In 1 Kings 18, God ‘answers by fire.’ And in Daniel 7, God’s throne is described as being ‘ablaze with flames.’  

Why does the Author of the Torah want us to associate God with fire? The 19th-century sage Rabbi Sholom Dovber Schneerson (known as the Rebbe Rashab) explains that the persistent use of fire teaches us that the performance of righteous actions requires a flaming heart. 

The rabbi said: ‘Between coldness and heresy stands an extremely thin wall.’ Performing the commandments with coldness will, the Rebbe Rashab teaches, lead us away from godliness and to the border with heresy. 

John Wooden, properly named by the Sporting News as the greatest coach of all time, would have agreed. His UCLA basketball teams won 10 national championships, including seven in a row (1967-73). 

What accounted for his astonishing success? There are many things – but it all starts with something that he began developing as a 24-year-old coach in 1934. This was his ‘Pyramid of Success.’ The elements of the pyramid changed over the years, but one thing didn’t. This was ‘Enthusiasm.’  

Enthusiasm, as Coach Wooden knew, is the predicate to both inspiration and persistence – the twin qualities for significant achievement. The fact that the Democrats do not seem to be enthusiastically against Trump, his policies or appointees creates an opening for an enthusiasm they could share with Republicans. One possibility is health. 

The Democratic enthusiasm for decreasing tobacco use resulted in an astonishing decline in cigarette smoking. They should receive all the credit for this life-saving public health achievement. This enthusiasm can be revived, and joined with that of RFK Jr and his acolytes to orient federal policy in line with the science of healthy eating and living.  

The consequence for Americans, on that issue alone, would be enormously beneficial for the health of Americans – and another testament to the biblical imperative of enthusiasm. 

President Donald Trump’s re-entrance into the White House has meant the complete overturning of Biden administration policies, the withdrawal of major international agreements and uncertainty that has left international partners waiting to see where they stand in the pecking order as some manage damage control while others vie for a seat at the table.

Trump’s actions came as no surprise this time around as the 47th president enters his second term. But what it means in terms of geopolitics remains unclear as adversaries and allies alike watch to see how these next four years will play out. 

WHO’S IN

Trump met with Meloni, leader of the conservative Brothers of Italy party, at his Mar-a-Lago residence earlier this month. The Italian leader, who has already voiced her support for Trump’s position on international issues like increasing NATO defense spending, attended Trump’s inauguration on Monday. According to reports this week, she has been deemed the ‘Trump whisperer’ and the ‘preferred interlocutor in the EU’ – a particularly important relationship amid concern that Trump could start a trade war with Europe.

A long-time ally of Trump, Orban championed his return to the Oval Office this month and reportedly declared that with Trump in office he could launch the ‘second phase of the offensive that aims to occupy Brussels,’ which he claimed is ‘occupied by a left-liberal oligarchy.’ Orban, though invited, did not attend the inauguration due to a scheduling conflict. 

Once hailed by Trump as the leader to ‘make Argentina great again,’ Milei is looking to expand relations with the U.S. On Wednesday during the Davos World Economic Forum, he told Bloomberg he may be willing to leave the more than 30-year-old Mercosur trade bloc founded by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay in 1991, if it means securing a new trade deal with the U.S.

 India is also scrambling to secure a trade deal with the U.S. amid concerns over international tariffs. Despite improved ties between India and China, and a meeting between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Russia last year, Reuters reported on Wednesday that Modi is looking to back off its reliance on Beijing – its largest trading partner – and instead lean in on relations with Washington. Modi is looking to meet with Trump in February. 

Trump and Netanyahu maintained a strong relationship during the president’s first term, and a similar dynamic is expected to remain during Trump’s second term. Netanyahu on Monday released a video message congratulating Trump on his inauguration and said that ‘the best days of our alliance are yet to come.’ He also thanked Trump for the role his administration played in helping to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which initiated the return of the hostages still held in Gaza. 

WHO’S TOEING THE LINE

 The U.S.-U.K. partnership has often been described as a ‘special relationship,’ and London has long been one of Washington’s closest allies. But the ties between the U.S. and U.K. will be tested as Trump faces Labour leader Keir Starmer, who has previously been critical of Trump. 

Starmer, in 2023, condemned the U.K.’s Conservative party for ‘behave[ing] more and more like Donald Trump’ rather than embodying the values championed by Winston Churchill. 

‘They look at the politics of America and want to bring that here,’ he said. ‘Is there anybody in the government now who feels a sense of obligation to anything other than their own self-interest? To democracy, the rule of law, serving our country?’ 

‘It’s all woke, woke, woke. Wedge, wedge, wedge. Divide, divide, divide,’ he added.

Starmer has since pledged to work with Trump and to ensure the ‘special relationship’ endures, though he is expected to face a tough road.

 The leader of the U.S.’s oldest ally is the only remaining European leader on the United Nations Security Council who was in office alongside Trump during his first term. Trump and Macron often butted heads during Trump’s first term and, despite an invitation to the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in December, reports indicate this time will likely be no different. 

While Macron was among the first to congratulate Trump on his second presidential victory, he also issued multiple statements of warning this week, first when he said that now is the time for a ‘European strategic wake-up call,’ emphasizing the need to lessen reliance on the U.S. for defense. 

The second warning came on Wednesday when it said ‘it is necessary more than ever for Europeans . . . to play their role of consolidating a united, strong and sovereign Europe’ as it stares down stiff tariffs vowed by Trump. 

 Scholz’s predecessor, Angela Merkel, often went head-to-head with Trump and reportedly believed that the U.S. president specifically had it out for Germany during his first term. Scholz, who leads the left-leaning Social Democrats, appears to be following in a similar no-nonsense approach when it comes to the second Trump administration and on Wednesday made it clear that Trump ‘will be, and so much is already clear, a challenge.’ 

Speaking alongside Macron on Wednesday, Scholz pledged to stand united with his European allies and said, ‘Our position is clear. Europe is a big economic power with around 450 million citizens. We are strong, we stand together. Europe will not duck and hide but will be a constructive and self-confident partner.’

Trump has made clear that the EU is in his crosshairs, telling reporters this week, ‘The European Union is very, very bad to us.’ But President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen made clear this week she is ready to work with the new U.S. president.

‘No other economies in the world are as integrated as we are,’ she said, noting that the trade volumes between the U.S. and Europe account for 30% of all trade globally, reported Reuters. ‘Our first priority will be to engage early, discuss common interests and be ready to negotiate.’

She made clear that the EU will not be bullied by Trump and said, ‘We will be pragmatic, but we will always stand by our principles. To protect our interests and uphold our values – that is the European way.’

EU feelings toward Trump appear fairly divided as the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has backed Trump’s push to increase defense spending across the board in Europe. Right-wing Danish member of the European Parliament Anders Vistisen addressed Trump’s stated desire to acquire Greenland and in a public message did not mince words.

‘Dear President Trump, listen very carefully: Greenland has been part of the Danish kingdom for 800 years. It is an integrated part of our country. It is not for sale,’ Vistisen said. ‘Let me put it in words you might understand. Mr. Trump, f*** off!’

 Following a series of dramatic reports and resignations relating to Trudeau’s handling of Trump after he was newly elected and claimed that Canada should be the U.S.’s 51st state, Trudeau resigned from the top job this month.

It remains unclear who will replace Trudeau in a March 9 election, within his Liberal Party ahead of the general election later this year, where the party is expected to lose to the country’s Conservatives.

Trudeau has said, ‘There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States,’ and government officials across the board are bracing for a trade war with the U.S. after Trump threatened to levy 25% tariffs on Canada, starting Feb. 1. 

Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said this week that Ottawa ‘will continue to work on preventing tariffs’ but said that officials are also ‘working on retaliation.’ 

In the final hours of his term, President Joe Biden negotiated a prisoner exchange with the Taliban that released U.S. citizens Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McKenty from Taliban custody. 

Not included in the deal, however, were U.S. citizens George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi.

On Saturday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X that he was ‘just hearing’ of the detentions of additional Americans by the Taliban. 

‘If this is true, we will have to immediately place a VERY BIG bounty on their top leaders, maybe even bigger than the one we had on Bin Laden,’ Rubio wrote.

Dennis Fitzpatrick, who is coordinating efforts outside the U.S. government for Glezmann’s release, claimed Glezmann was ‘never a serious priority for the Biden White House.’ 

‘President Biden and [former National Security Advisor] Jake Sullivan decided to leave George Glezmann in Kabul for no good reason,’ Fitzpatrick told Fox News Digital. ‘We are confident that President Trump’s clear-eyed leadership will secure George’s release to his family.’

Fitzpatrick added that 66-year-old Glezmann is ‘a totally innocent man’ who was ‘a hard-working, blue-collar airline mechanic before he was wrongfully detained. He doesn’t deserve to be used as a pawn.’

Glezmann has been in detention since Dec. 5, 2022, when he was traveling to Afghanistan to ‘explore the cultural landscape and rich history of the country’ according to a Senate resolution from July 2024 calling for his immediate release. 

The resolution states that Glezmann’s mental and physical condition were deteriorating as a result of his detention in a nine-foot square underground cell. He has only been allowed limited calls to family and has experienced ‘facial tumors, hypertension, severe malnutrition, and other medical conditions’ as a result of his detention.

While the Taliban admit to holding Glezmann in custody, they insist they do not hold Mahmood Habibi. 

Habibi’s brother Ahmad told Fox News Digital the family ‘know[s] that my brother is still in Taliban custody. I can’t share too much about that because we don’t want to put him or others at risk. But anyone accepting the Taliban’s hollow suggestions that they do not have him is falling for their lies.

‘We have multiple witnesses to his arrest by the [General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI)]. We have multiple witnesses who were held with him at GDI headquarters. The Taliban has always claimed they don’t have him and don’t know who he is. How do they explain the obvious contradictions to this?’

Ahmad also claimed the family ‘know[s] that the U.S. government has technical evidence that Mahmood was in GDI custody long after his arrest.’ 

He alleges the Biden National Security Council ‘micromanaged the State Department’s effort to secure my brother’s release’ and ‘blocked [the State Department] from using the data in their discussions with the Taliban, even though we told them that it would have directly confronted the Taliban’s claims that they never heard of my brother.’ 

Neither the State Department nor the National Security Council responded to Fox News Digital’s requests for confirmation of Ahmad’s claims.

Fox News Digital also reached out to Taliban spokespersons Zabihullah Mujahid and Suhail Shaheen about Habibi’s detention and asked Mujahid what happened to Habibi after he was arrested by the GDI. Mujahid did not respond. Shaheen directed Fox News Digital to reach out to the GDI and claimed no knowledge of the situation.  

The Taliban have long sought the release of Guantanamo Bay detainee and al Qaeda facilitator Muhammad Rahim in exchange for the Americans they admitted were in their prisons. Ahmad Habibi told CBS News President Biden assured him in a Jan. 12 phone call that the U.S. would not release Rahim unless the Taliban released Habibi.

Former Principal Deputy Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Hugh Dugan told Fox News Digital the Trump administration could pursue multiple ‘lines of effort’ to secure the release of Glezmann and Habibi. 

Dugan said this could involve ‘outright rescue by the military’ at one level or continued ‘subtle diplomacy in the background.’  

Dugan said he recognized that ‘to say we’re doing everything we can … is not satisfying to a family member, frankly, or anybody, and they want to hear that you’re continuing to identify what might have eluded us all along, or that there’s a crack in the horizon that’s opening. 

‘And we need to realize that that might be another step in our path to recovery and a line of effort has to be amended to accommodate new realities at any given moment.’

Now that President Donald J. Trump has returned to the White House, what valuable insights can we take from his unprecedented political journey to improve our own lives? 

While countless political analyses have explored the astonishing nature of his comeback, what stands out most is the sheer magnitude of obstacles he overcame to reclaim the presidency. While many of us navigate life moving back and forth, Trump’s unwavering resolve has consistently propelled him forward. He’s refused to be deterred by setbacks. 

If you’re seeking inspiration for personal success, there’s much to learn from his resilience. Here are four major challenges he conquered and how you can apply these lessons to elevate your own life in the coming year.

Even When the World Is Against You…

For most people, a single lawsuit would be enough to cause sleepless nights. Now imagine being embroiled in multiple high-stakes legal battles simultaneously. 

President Trump faced four major cases at once: the federal January 6th case, the Georgia election case, the classified documents case, and the Manhattan hush money case. Each case drained resources – time, energy and money – but more significantly, any one of them could have derailed his focus from his ultimate mission. 

Whether these cases had legitimacy is irrelevant; the key takeaway is that focus triumphs over sheer brilliance. In moments of adversity, you must discern whether you are facing a genuine crisis or merely an inconvenience. Trump demonstrated to the nation that an unrelenting focus on the bigger picture can lead to victory.

Enemies Can Become Allies – Even Big Tech

Who could have imagined a scenario in which Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Tim Cook would be seated together at a presidential inauguration? True leadership hinges on the ability to recognize and leverage strategic opportunities. At one point, Mark Zuckerberg believed he had aligned himself with the Biden administration by condemning Trump’s stance on immigration and other liberal issues. However, when Biden accused Facebook of ‘killing people’ for not fully submitting to government-mandated content moderation, the tables turned. 

Through sheer influence, Trump managed to bring the tech titans to his side – an industry that once vilified him. But beyond politics, the presence of these executives at his inauguration signaled something even greater: a unified front in technological supremacy, sending a powerful message to China and the world that America will not be overtaken in innovation.

So What If People Don’t Like You?

As Donald Trump prepared for his second inauguration, his approval ratings remained in a precarious position, teetering on the edge of turning positive for the first time. According to FiveThirtyEight’s tracker, his approval rating had narrowed significantly from an unfavorable margin of 8.6 points on Election Day to nearly neutral in early January.

Trump embodies the archetype of the boss many of us have encountered—one whose management style, communication or leadership tactics may not always be well received. However, what remains undeniable is his ability to execute and deliver results.

As Trump left office in 2021, his approval rating stood at a dismal 34%, the lowest of his presidency. His overall approval average was four points lower than any of his predecessors in Gallup’s polling history. Yet, despite all this, the electorate overwhelmingly reinstated him because they recognized his ability to address key national concerns – securing the border, revitalizing the economy and ensuring public safety.

Do Celebrity Endorsements Even Matter Anymore?

In a world where cultural icons like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Oprah publicly endorse a candidate, conventional wisdom would suggest an easy path to victory for their chosen side. In addition, raising a billion dollars should theoretically provide the financial firepower necessary to outmaneuver an opponent. 

Yet, despite 90% of mainstream media, Hollywood elites and the entertainment industry aligning against him, Trump remained undeterred.

Many individuals believe that success is determined by having the ‘right connections’ – a prestigious endorsement, an influential mentor, or a well-connected network. 

However, Trump’s triumph proves that external validation is not the deciding factor. Whether in school, at work or in politics, personal success is not dictated by who endorses you but by how the people – your audience, clients or colleagues – ultimately respond to your efforts.

Four More Years

The biggest question now isn’t what President Trump will do with his renewed presidency – it’s what lessons you can extract from his historic return to power and how you can apply them to your own ambitions. 

Throughout a relentless political storm, Trump exemplified the power of persistence, demonstrating that hard work and resilience yield results. He proved that no challenge is insurmountable, no setback too significant, and no opposition too powerful if you remain committed to your goals.

Now, the challenge is yours. Take these lessons, harness your determination and make the next four years your most successful yet.