Will Trump destroy the US?

What is meant by the destruction of the American system and the United States’ global dominance?

This is a frequently asked question these days, but in my opinion, it is an exaggeration. This perception is partly due to Trump himself, as he often makes contradictory statements in the same sentence. Trump says whatever idea comes to his mind without much concern for how others will interpret it. His role ends once he fires the shot, without caring about which target it hits. However, let’s remember that many predictions about him have been incorrect. It was said that Trump’s first term would lead to World War III – this did not happen. It was said that he would become a dictator ruling indefinitely – this did not happen. It was said that he would dismantle NATO – this did not happen. It was said that he would ignite a nuclear war – this did not happen. He scared the world with the nuclear briefcase but spent his time drinking Diet Coke.

For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

The question now is: What does Trump want?

Will he really dismantle American global power and the system it established after World War II? We must not forget a crucial point: Trump is often not speaking to us, but to his supporters. Trump is in a perpetual campaign mode. He is driven by one primary idea, the same one that brought him back to the White House: “America is weak because of cowardly presidents before me, and I will restore its glory. I will make it great again.”
To achieve this, he does not talk about alliances and the international system, but rather about deals.

He speaks in terms of threats of sanctions and tariffs, using the language of money and numbers that his electoral base understands. He does not talk about America’s 128 military bases in 49 countries, nor about military spending ($880 billion annually, more than the next eight countries combined), nor about global values – because his audience does not care about these topics. Instead, he talks about China “stealing” American jobs from his voters and how he will bring them back. According to him, America is not treated fairly and is being robbed, and he will restore its rights, dignity, and, most importantly, its stolen wealth. This is from the economic perspective. But from a cultural standpoint, Trump argues that America is under cultural invasion due to illegal immigrants – whom he labels as “murderers, gang members, and drug dealers.” That is why he closed the borders, started deportations, banned gender diversity policies by limiting identity to two genders (male and female), attempted to end birthright citizenship, and issued orders preventing transgender male athletes from competing in women’s sports.

Regarding the government and reducing its size, only 22 percent of Americans approve of the federal government’s performance.

This is according to Pew Research Center, and this percentage declines every year. Trump’s desire to shrink the government, making it leaner, more efficient, and more practical, aligns with popular sentiment.

His proposal to place Elon Musk – known for his business success – at the helm of this effort has certainly received a positive reception.

Trump has a deep instinctive understanding of the political landscape.

He knows exactly where to position himself. He has a clear action plan, a clear audience, clear goals, and a clear strategy. He knows whom he is addressing, what he wants to say, and how to say it. His message remains the same, repeated over and over. He resembles a vengeful king fueled by intense anger, constantly waging populist wars on multiple fronts – identity, economy, politics, and the media.

But will he dismantle NATO?

If the answer is yes, then he is indeed seeking to destroy the American system. However, the answer is, of course, no. In fact, his pressure has had the opposite effect – it has pushed NATO members to increase their financial contributions, strengthening the alliance rather than weakening it. We should not forget that countries like Canada had been reluctant to pay their 2 percent NATO dues, and several nations, including Japan, had scaled back their military budgets, relying on US protection. Has he dismantled a single military base? Let’s put aside his repeated threats of withdrawal – he has not closed a single one of the 128 US bases around the world.

Will he destroy relationships with allies?

Disregard his rhetoric, which is designed to serve his political goals, and focus on his actions. Relations with US allies will not weaken easily. In fact, what we are seeing now is a repetition of the previous scenario. Despite all his tough talk, US alliances with South Korea, Japan, European nations, Saudi Arabia, and Canada remain strong. Beyond the storms he stirs up, these partnerships remain solid and are not easily shaken.
Will he allow China to dominate the world?

In this regard, Trump will follow the grand US strategic playbook and will not deviate from it. China has only one viable option: full integration into the international system. This has been the approach of previous presidents – Bush, Obama, Biden, and even Trump in both his first and potential second terms. The strategy of encircling China with political and military alliances while integrating it into the global economy is the best way to pull it into the international system. Leaving China isolated outside the system could create a dangerous confrontation or even a third world war, which would weaken the liberal order we live in.

Will he grant Russia dominance over Europe through a deal?

In my opinion, this is unlikely. Russia is already militarily and economically exhausted. An article in Foreign Affairs by Andrew Kosenko and Peter Lieberman highlights the devastating consequences of the war on the Russian economy and society. Beyond the heavy casualties, the credibility of Russia’s military establishment has suffered. The occupied Ukrainian territories will be a financial burden on Moscow due to their destroyed infrastructure, and Russia will not gain the spoils of war it initially expected. The invasion of Ukraine has also united Europeans more than ever before, prompting additional nations to join NATO.

This will limit Russia’s influence in the future, especially after Putin, whose ambitions to restore the Soviet empire have already stumbled in his first major military adventure.

We do not know exactly what Trump is thinking.

However, his actions do not indicate an intention to destroy American power or weaken its global position. He has not weakened NATO, dismantled military bases, undermined the military, destroyed the economy, or severed alliances (he even temporarily suspended tariffs on Canada and Mexico). But it is true that there are those around him who do want to dismantle the American system. There is an ideologically driven faction advocating for America to revert to a pre-World War I state. Despite their persistent noise, it does not seem that Trump is seriously listening to them – at least for now.

Read more:

Inside the mind of a second Donald Trump

How does the new version of Trump think?

A glimpse into Donald Trump’s new mind