America Now Has Two Versions
Why this may be the new reality
What does America stand for? Well, these days it depends on who’s in the Oval. Why though? Why is it this way? The simple answer is Trump!
Trump’s disruption has been chaotic, unstable and unpredictable. These attributes are the antithesis of the characteristics of a democratic global superpower. It used to be that America was known for her core fundamental values that were consistent even with the periodic change in government or political party in control.
The world may not have agreed with America’s system of global operations, but they knew America’s position on global issues. Now, America’s definition of “friend” or “foe” has been remarkably altered. Those who used to be considered friends are treated like foes and vice versa.
America’s decades-old traditions are being disrupted in an uncharacteristically unrecognizable way. And according to experts, if there’s one thing global markets hate, it is instability.
The recent Trump Tariff wars with Canada, Mexico and the rest of the world have demystified the negotiating power of tariffs as a tool. For the millions who voted for him, I’m not sure if this is what they expected, or at least if this is how they expected it to happen.
As an African outsider, I didn’t think Trump 2.0 would affect me that greatly. However, the 14% tariff on US imports from Nigeria (before the 90-day pause) has woken me up to a new world reality.
So, what happens next when this pause is over? I have no idea. And based on Trump’s leadership style, I doubt even his close aides or economic advisers do.
With these uncertainties and haphazard moves, much of the world is strategizing on how to alienate the US by searching for alternate trading partners.
Will this be short term or long term? To answer this question, we must take a step back and look at the bigger picture. I believe the effect of Trump’s first hundred days will outlive his presidency. The future generations may be left to bear the brunt of this administration’s actions.
Would the rest of the world alter their engagement with the US? This means no more commitment to deals longer than 4 years. Waiting till early November of an election year to determine whether America is considered friend or foe. Could this be the new reality?
Imagine the opposition party winning the next US presidential election in 2028 and reversing all of Trump’s untraditional US policies in 2029, only for the next successful Trump-republican candidate to re-reverse it afterwards? And there goes the vicious cycle.
America has been generally stable, predictable and consistent with her values for decades, regardless of the ideological leaning of the president in power.
Unfortunately, if unchecked, America may just be on a slippery slope to global irrelevance. Will this be better off for the American people and the rest of the world? Only time will tell.
How to turn a thriving economy into free fall!
We need to redefine winning. Those now in power are not only losing their supporters, they have turned the US into a periah nation.
Whatever history has taught us is in the scrap pile. How we can recover from this disreputable hijacking is an open question.
It’s up to regroup and move forward, an onerous process, with an uncertain timetable.