By Aabigayle McIntosh

“The Caribbean and the rest of the world are going to be far poorer today as a result of having President Trump back in office,” stated renowned pollster Peter Wickham in response to Donald Trump’s sweeping presidential election victory on Wednesday.

In a state media interview that morning, Wickham shared his concerns, noting that Trump’s “America First” agenda resonates with the majority of Americans who voted for him.

However, Wickham pointed out that while respecting the right of Americans to choose their leader, Trump’s return is likely to have negative consequences globally, especially on critical issues for the Caribbean, like climate change, and conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.

“He’s talked about imposing tariffs, which won’t help global trade in any significant way,” Wickham said.

“I’m concerned about the overall direction. But, as I said, we have to respect that the Americans have made a choice. Just as they respect our choices, we must respect theirs. But these will not be an easy four years for the region or the world. We need to buckle up.”

Wickham also highlighted that Trump won a clear majority of Electoral College votes and will be inaugurated next January, likely with support from both the Senate and potentially the House of Representatives.

Furthermore, Trump may have backing from a Supreme Court majority that has previously supported his assertions of presidential immunity.

Wickham foresees a “Trump-heavy” term without “guardrails,” stating that Trump now has a mandate to pursue his agenda unimpeded.

One pressing question on many minds is the fate of the ongoing criminal cases against Trump.

The president-elect, Trump faced four simultaneous prosecutions this year, ranging from allegations of covering up a hush-money payment during his 2016 campaign to attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat.

“Until he becomes president, he can’t pardon himself,” Wickham explained. “If the offenses are federal crimes, he could issue a self-pardon, but only once in office.”

Wickham speculated on the court’s possible response: “The question is, will a judge be bold enough to sentence him now, knowing it may never be enforced? Or will they wait until after he leaves office? Personally, I think the judge might issue a suspended sentence or something similar.”