In an interview with a Chinese current affairs programme which looked at the state of the 2016 US presidential race, SMU School of Social Sciences Associate Professor of Political Science John Donaldson shared his views on the controversy surrounding the presidential campaign of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, the inexplicable “Donald Trump Phenomenon” which has taken America by storm, as well as the odds of him winning the presidency. Associate Prof Donaldson noted that the main reason why the Republicans are uncomfortable (Trump’s presidential campaign) is because he is not part of the party system and that he has undermined the campaign. He added that while Trump is leading in the Republican race, he is actually deeply unpopular among most Americans. Associate Prof Donaldson also discussed the Obama administration’s pivot to Asia and how the new president’s policies could impact the region.