My favorite president: Donald Trump and the art of rekindling world leader bromances

"It's nice," President-elect Donald Trump remarked in July from the campaign trail, "to get along with someone who has a lot of nuclear weapons." He was referring to North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, who has ruled through isolation, indoctrination, and repression, leading to mass starvation of his own people, according to the U.N.

"He’d like to see me back, too," Trump said of Kim. "I think he misses me, if you want to know the truth."

Young males, the so-called "bro vote," helped propel Trump to the presidency, due to concerns over immigration, economic opportunities, multiculturalism, and perceived assaults on traditional family values and masculinity.

Trump has "bros" overseas, too—older ones who run countries and may expect him to reorient U.S. foreign policy away from global alliances toward their politically populist, sometimes authoritarian, priorities.

What to Expect from Trump 2.0

"The word I would use to describe what we should expect from Trump 2.0 is 'transactional,'" said Charles Kupchan, a professor of international affairs at Georgetown University. "Trump is going to attempt to bring an end to the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, which will require difficult conversations with both democratic and non-democratic leaders."

Kim Jong Un's Isolated North Korea

Bromance potential: Medium-to-low.

U.S. goals: Denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, with about 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. Experts believe Pyongyang's missiles can reach the U.S. mainland.

Trump priors: Trump went from threatening Kim with "fire and fury" to claiming Kim as his pen pal. The summits ended in stalemate as Kim wanted sanctions relief for denuclearization.

Edward Howell from the University of Oxford notes that North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities have developed since Trump's first term, and Kim is not pretending to want talks with the U.S. and South Korea.

'Make Argentina Great Again' with Javier Milei

Bromance potential: High-to-off-the-charts.

U.S. goals: Focus on trade, human rights, and combatting terrorism. Argentina needs U.S. backing for an IMF financial aid package.

Trump priors: Trump embraced Milei, an economic libertarian, at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February. Milei, who admires Trump, ran a campaign called "Make Argentina Great Again."

Milei aligns with Trump on immigration and social issues. Tech billionaire Elon Musk, co-leading the newly coined Department of Government Efficiency with Trump, also supports Milei. Milei is expected at a CPAC event at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence.

Saudi Arabia's Prince Mohammed bin Salman and a Consulate Killing

Bromance potential: Medium.

U.S. goals: Traditionally, an oil-for-security relationship with Saudi Arabia. Biden's administration seeks a formal defense pact, including support for a civilian nuclear program and normalization with Israel.

Trump priors: Trump and MBS had warm relations during Trump's first term. Trump’s first presidential trip was to Saudi Arabia, where he signed a multi-billion arms deal. Despite the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Trump maintained good relations with MBS, who may now be wary of Trump's support for Israel.

Russia's Vladimir Putin

Bromance potential: It's complicated.

U.S. goals: Trump aims to bring Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to negotiate an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a claim met with skepticism.

Trump priors: Trump and Putin’s relationship is unclear, filled with unofficial meetings and mixed comments. While Biden called Putin a "killer," Trump often praises Putin. The relationship's real story is murky, but Trump believes he can negotiate peace in Ukraine.

Hungary's Nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban

Bromance potential: High.

U.S. goals: The Biden administration criticized Orban for illiberal policies. Orban, who blocked EU aid for Ukraine, may not offend Trump with his anti-immigration stance.

Trump priors: Orban endorsed Trump’s campaigns, celebrating his victories. Trump lauds Orban as "fantastic" and "respected," with their views on Russia's invasion of Ukraine aligning.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Bromance potential: "Howdy Modi."

U.S. goals: Strengthening defense, trade, and technology ties with India as a counter to China's rise.

Trump priors: Despite Modi’s controversial human rights record, Trump embraced him, sharing a stage at the "Howdy, Modi" rally and visiting India in a show of friendship.

Stay tuned to see how these potential bromances evolve and impact global politics.