‘The youth is the future of the nation. Invest in them and you invest in the future.’
– Jawaharlal Nehru, First PM of India
I am a strong advocate for getting more young people involved in the nation’s leadership process. I see a pressing need for them to be active participants at all levels in the political arena, for obvious reasons.
As a senior citizen now, I feel happy and have a deep sense of gratification whenever I see political parties fielding the younger set, particularly those in their early 30s and 40s, as election candidates.
I will not hesitate to encourage the young candidates and give them a pat on the back, win or lose. I believe some young lawmakers, particularly those in Sarawak, will remember my conversations with them.
The emphasis on youth leadership today stems from the recognition that young people are the future leaders, innovators and changemakers of society.
Young people bring new perspectives and creative solutions that can drive progress. They are generally more adaptable, tech-savvy and open to experimenting with unconventional ideas, which is critical in today’s rapidly changing world.
So, let us continue to encourage more of our young people to partake in important leadership roles for, as Jawaharlal Nehru said, “The youth is the future of the nation; invest in them and you invest in the future.”
At this juncture, I have to categorically state that I am very glad that US President-elect Donald Trump has assembled a very strong team of passionate, intelligent and disciplined young people as his campaign aides and possibly, as key players in his new administration.
First up, Trump has chosen the young Ohio Senator James David Vance more popularly known as JD Vance as his running mate. I have dedicated my column here on Oct 30 to the 40-year-old JD Vance and “I see JD Vance as a future US president”.
Well, I have written at length on the Vice-President-elect, so I will move on to the other younger leaders in Trump’s team.
Next, I find Tulsi Gabbard, the 43-year-old ex-Congresswoman from Hawaii a very capable, outspoken and intelligent politician. A former Democrat, she joined the Republican Party at a rally in Trump’s presence and pledged her support for The Donald.
With a military background, Gabbard is known for her strong anti-war stance, advocating for a non-interventionist foreign policy that aligns with Trump’s “America First” principles.
With her bipartisan appeal and independence, Gabbard would be a unique and strategic asset in a Trump cabinet.
Up next, I have long been impressed with Vivek Ramaswamy’s oratorical skills, ever since he became a Republican presidential contender last year and the youngest one at that at 38.
He is the second most well-known Hindu on Trump’s team, the first being Usha Vance, the beautiful Indian-American wife of the Vice-President-elect.
Bringing Vivek Ramaswamy into a Trump cabinet could inject energy, fresh perspectives and policy innovation into the administration. His experience in business, tech and healthcare combined with his media savvy and appeal to younger groups would be valuable assets in helping Trump expand his influence and achieve policy goals.
Then, there is 42-year-old Lara Trump, the President-elect’s daughter-in-law and wife of his second son, Eric.
Lara has cultivated strong connections with the Republican base, especially Trump’s loyal supporters. She has become an influential voice within the Republican Party, promoting Trump’s policies and helping to shape the party’s outreach strategies.
Her dedication and effectiveness have solidified her role as a prominent GOP figure, and her influence may continue to grow if she chooses to pursue her own political ambitions.
Even as the President-elect has indicated that he would not appoint family members to his administration this time around, Lara would probably continue to assist her father-in-law in other ex-officio roles over the next four years of his presidency.
Facing space constraint here, I think I have to quickly mention two other well-known names, billionaire Elon Musk and Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who have been by Trump’s side throughout the campaign.
Both men are 53 – not considered old, but still relatively young, in my opinion.
Trump has publicly called Musk a super-genius and he could potentially be a significant player in a Trump administration due to his expertise in technology, and business and his growing influence on public discourse and policy.
Marco Rubio could be an asset in several possible roles within a Trump cabinet, leveraging his extensive legislative experience, foreign policy expertise and understanding of key domestic issues.
His name has been mentioned as a potential Secretary of State or White House National Security Advisor.
In any of these roles, Rubio could contribute to advancing Trump’s foreign and domestic policy objectives while lending his experience and political acumen to the administration.
There are other young members of the Trump team, of course, which I have not mentioned. But one thing is clear. Irrespective of whether I have named them or not, this generation of Trump-aligned young leaders is shaping not only his current political efforts but also the trajectory of the Republican Party and conservative movement as they move forward.
Godspeed to Trump and his team for the next four years.
‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.’
– Margaret Mead (1901-1978). She was an American cultural anthropologist known for her groundbreaking work in the field of anthropology and for popularising anthropology in the mainstream.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
