Mehdi Hassan

There's another set of tax cuts for the rich, paid for by cuts to healthcare and to social services.

And income inequality, wealth inequality has been widening in America.

There was a brief period after the pandemic

because of all the pandemic measures, that actually cut inequality.

The United States of America, in Biden's first term in office, cut child poverty in half.

Unheard of.

50% cut.

And then they couldn't replicate that in year two because all of those benefits expired and a couple of Democratic senators joined with Republicans to just end it all.

I mean, it's too early to say now, but by the end of his term, I have no doubt in my mind that income and wealth inequality levels will balloon out of control again because he's so intent on giving tax cuts to the richest, to the 0.1%.

He's very open about rewarding his donors.

Mehdi, the country's last big anniversary was back in 1976 for the bicentennial or the 200th anniversary where President Gerald Ford delivered this quite optimistic speech for America's future.

There's also a very fraught time for America.

The Vietnam War had just ended.

President Nixon had been forced out by Watergate just a few years earlier.

There are some parallels when it comes to how divided the nation felt.

Do you think there's any chance that Trump will use this moment to heal the country's deep polarisation?

You've laughed before I've even finished the question.

I can say that question out loud.

With a straight face.

Yes, I did.