National

US politics

Opinion

Bruce Wolpe Senior fellow at the US Studies Centre and former political staffer October 28, 2025 — 5.00am

Do you want to know the difference between Reaganism and Trumpism?

Ronald Reagan stands before freedom-loving West Germans at the Berlin Wall, and says, “Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall !” The wall comes down, the Soviet Union collapses, the Cold War is won and millions of people in eastern Europe go from dictatorship to freedom.

Donald Trump stands on the South Lawn of the White House with demolition crews. “I as President say Tear Down the East Wing !” The East Wing comes down, his press secretary says Trump is the “ builder-in-chief ”, a ballroom is erected, thousands of uber-wealthy Trump contributors come to party, and America goes

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