When Donald Trump was first elected president of the United States in 2016, Nature gave advice to scientists Communicating constructively with Trump. We said that the new president’s approach, which is contrary to evidence, among other things, has no place in modern society. We added that the scientific community has a responsibility to take action and work with the president and the new administration to govern based on research and evidence.

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But still, during Trump’s first term, the world faced a government that ignored and undermined efforts to solve some of the world’s biggest problems, such as climate change and the global pandemic. Many researchers have left US federal science agencies; they were sometimes replaced by lobbyists and political appointees.

The USA has now re-elected Donald Trump as president. A lot researchers told Nature they are in despairto see the election result as a step back in terms of facts, reason, knowledge and decency.

Last week, Nature he said The United States needs a leader who respects evidence. The new administration needs to implement this principle. On behalf of the research community, we will be held accountable if it falls short.

We hope that the new administration will govern in line with the interests of the United States. That means holding on to the best of what the previous administration did and not returning to some of the policies of Trump’s first presidency.

The world needs a US president who respects evidence

This includes respecting scientific consensus when making regulatory decisions on public health, environmental issues, artificial intelligence and other issues. This is one of the cornerstones of modern government. Policy makers and politicians control the decision-making process but they cannot control the facts.

Climate change must also remain a vital priority. Over the past four years, the United States has made significant strides in understanding that it is in its interest not to remain inactive as global temperatures continue to rise. It has put in place policies that will support industries and communities through the coming sustainability transition. If these policies are repealed, the lowest-income people and those from marginalized communities will be among the hardest hit.

When the country engages in international relations, both the United States and the world are at their best. That means not repeating the previous Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from the 2015 Paris climate agreement, which was aimed at protecting the world from the effects of climate change and which US scientists helped draft. This means continuing to support other important international organizations such as the World Health Organization and UNESCO, the United Nations scientific and cultural organization.

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Trump’s Threat to cut WHO funding in 2020 This was particularly dangerous for low-income countries, where the agency’s work was vital in fighting disease and maintaining standards of public health infrastructure. Currently, WHO’s epidemiologists, clinicians and logistics staff are helping treat and control diseases in countries such as Afghanistan, Ukraine, Sudan and Yemen. Diseases do not respect borders: It is in the interest of the United States to cooperate and engage with international institutions to combat their spread.

The United States is a country that welcomes the world’s talent in science and other fields. This must continue if the country is to maintain its strength in research and innovation, which are the foundations of prosperity.

The research community must engage with the new administration with courage, tenacity, strength and unity. At the same time, scientists in the United States need to know that they are not alone. The research community is a global community. We need to stand together and stand strong against the challenges ahead. This will mean continuing to tell the truth to the government.