CAS IN THE MEDIA: Is Trump an undesirable ally?

On 25 January 2026, Professor Adekeye Adebajo was interviewed on The People’s Court, an eNCA current affairs programme, in a discussion focused on the state of the global multilateral system.

Reflecting on the administration of United States President Donald Trump, Professor Adebajo noted:

“What Trump is doing is, to a large extent, continuity rather than change, and some of what we are seeing actually preceded Trump. However, some of what he is doing is unique and destructive.”

In conversation with host Nqaba Mabece, the interview examined dysfunction within the multilateral system, with Professor Adebajo distinguishing between long-standing structural weaknesses and those further exacerbated during President Trump’s tenure. Over the hour-long programme, Professor Adebajo traced the historical development of the current multilateral order, assessed the implications of President Trump’s presidency for its stability, and reflected on the potential consequences for Africa.

The full interview is available to watch here:
https://www.enca.com/shows/peoples-court-trump-undesirable-ally-25-january-2026

You can read more of Professor Adebajo's reflections on Trump's presidency in his latest article for Project Syndicate, Trump is serving US imperialism raw. 

Professor Adekeye Adebajo is a senior research fellow at the Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship, University of Pretoria. 

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Pretoria.