Political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda believes that US president-elect Donald Trump can do no worse than his predecessors.

This is because the United States, said Razak, has long played the role of “dictator” in the international arena.

“The US has screwed up the world so many times. It has supported dictators, even supporting dictators against popular uprisings,” Razak told Malaysiakini.

He cited the purported attempt to kill former Cuban prime minister and president Fidel Castro as well as the US’ support, under President Barack Obama, for anti-Muammar Gaddafi forces in Libya, among others.

“Trump can do no worse than what US presidents have done so far. They have screwed up the world,” Razak added.

Pointing to the “carnage” that is the Middle East, Razak said this was all based on US foreign policy.

“I’m not anti-America, but look at what has happened in Iraq. The US can intervene, but they are clueless on post-intervention,” he reasoned.

Commenting further on the US presidential elections, Razak said it had all centred around the anti-establishment vote.

“Whether you agree or not, a vote against Hillary Clinton was a vote against the establishment,” he said, citing the working class versus big government play.

And ironic as it may be, Trump (photo), although a billionaire himself, had represented that.

“Everyone rallied around him as the anti-establishment candidate and he cleverly manoeuvred himself to be that person and he rode on that anti-establishment wave.

“Clinton, on the other hand, was seen as part of the establishment. She was secretary of state, and her husband was a president.

“I think it’s just a vote against that, rather than a vote in favour of Trump,” added Razak.

And the US mainstream media, too, did not help matters.

“The mainstream media, which is part of the establishment, was so biased against Trump. I think the media overplayed it - too much anti-Trump and pro-Clinton,” he said.

Looking at a game-changing scenario

But the world, said Razak, is definitely looking at a game-changing scenario.

“We don’t know what Trump’s foreign policy stand is. I wouldn’t hold too much on what he said during the campaign.

“(Because) when he becomes president, he has to sit down and look at the reality - and reality is quite different,” he said, acknowledging how Trump had spoken out against several countries during the campaign trail.

And Razak also believes that a bee-line consisting of other world leaders would arise to meet Trump once he becomes president.

“Because you are not dealing with Trump now, you are dealing with the US president.

“Perhaps we may now want to make a distinction between Trump as the person and Trump when he sits in the White House, for the presidency is an institution.”

Apart from the US presidency, the Republicans also scored a clean sweep by securing control of both the upper and lower houses of the US Congress.

After it became apparent that Trump was leading the race, the US dollar sank and stock markets slammed into reverse.

Investors are worried that Trump’s victory would cause global uncertainties.