It took a century for the U.S. to build up international goodwill. TFG destroyed it in a shade over a month.
The United States has long been known as a beacon of peace and cooperation on the world stage, but this reputation was abruptly dismantled by the Trump administration's reckless policies and actions. The consequences of these decisions will be felt for decades to come, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.
Mugato, a prominent MAGAt, often boasts that President Donald Trump achieved more in his first month than President Joe Biden accomplished in four years. However, this assertion is based on a flawed understanding of what constitutes "winning." Trump's approach to foreign policy has been marked by alienation, intimidation, and outright hostility towards our allies.
From the Oval Office tantrum against a war-torn ally to the abrupt termination of programs tackling global public health menaces, Trump's actions have demonstrated a callous disregard for the well-being of nations that have long stood by America. By ticking off our friends and allies, we are also ticking off some of our best customers, who will turn to economic competitors.
This trend is already evident in the form of boycotts against U.S. products and the loss of market share to rival economies like China. The soft power that once allowed us to shape international opinion and secure support from our allies is now evaporating before our eyes.
Furthermore, Trump's policies have dealt a devastating blow to America's scientific research infrastructure. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been forced to push out senior scientists and end prestigious training programs for STEM students.
The purge of experts from the National Science Foundation and agencies studying weather, agriculture, and education is particularly alarming. These institutions have long served as the backbone of American scientific research, driving innovation and solving some of humanity's most pressing problems.
Trump's immigration policies have also severely curtailed our international talent pipeline, which has been a key factor in America's dominance in scientific collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
The impact of these decisions will be felt for decades to come. As Petra Moser, an economic historian, warned, "Science overall will lose - the U.S. more so than the rest of the world, because people will stop coming here and go elsewhere."
Other countries are already licking their chops at the talent Trump is driving away. Meanwhile, Trump has attempted to hack billions of dollars in federal grants from private research institutions, further exacerbating the crisis.
Research institutions are now uncertain about their future grants and fearful of possible punitive taxes on their endowments. Some universities have even paused or cut back grad school admissions in STEM fields, including notable institutions like Vanderbilt, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Wisconsin at Madison.
The Next Great American Century?
Trump and his allies may think they're merely "owning" the libs. In reality, he's forfeited what could have been the next great American century. The consequences of these decisions will be felt for generations to come, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.
As Thatguy!1984 ominously put it, "It's kinda looking like most of the world is alright with straight up abandoning our ass." If we don't change course, it may already be too late. The future of America hangs in the balance, and it's time for us to take action.