The US empire is in decay, but it will not go quietly. Mary O’Leary examines the future of US hegemony and imperialism under Trump’s leadership
Throughout the 20th century the United States of America rose to power in the aftermath of World War II, gaining territory and political influence abroad to form, what many would call, an empire. It is that rise in power which makes America’s decline in the 21st century all the more unexpected. Though not the cause, the second election of Donald Trump marks a hastening of that decline and a rise in American desperation to keep it from happening.
This is due, in part, to the outspoken increase in conservative, right-wing values and government policy within American society following Trump’s first election win. Policy which negatively affects lower income and minority communities as well as granting more power and influence to the American upper class.
No better economic example of this would be Trump’s increase on tariffs which have now targeted over 90 countries, though excluding nations like Russia and North Korea. A tariff is an expense added onto an imported good which is then paid for by the company acquiring said goods. Unlike what Trump supporters would claim, the responsibility for paying these tariffs will not be on the foreign countries exporting their own goods, but on the American consumers themselves.
By creating a foreign policy entirely centered around American economic gain, the US has alienated itself from the vast majority of the world
As such, prices within the US will rise to compensate for the tariffs placed on the imported goods. Needless to say, many small companies and working class people will not be able to withstand the added costs placed on their products and services.
Those who are able to withstand the burden will most likely be among the millionaire and billionaire class of Americans, many of which are a part of Trump’s inner circle and already own growing monopolies over these goods. In addition, he has even exempt oil and gas companies from his tariffs altogether.
Stevie O’Hanlon, a spokesperson for youth-led environmental justice group the Sunrise Movement, has said, “Oil and gas billionaires just bought themselves an exemption from Trump’s tariffs. While the rest of us have to deal with skyrocketing prices and rising temperatures, they’re sitting on their thrones and raking in billions. We need an end to this oligarchy now.”
In creating economic plans, such as tariffs, which primarily benefit the wealthy, Trump is directly affording power to a growing oligarchic class. Already, he has shown to surround himself and cater to millionaire and billionaire associates of his by appointing them to his cabinet and inner government circle. Many of these, such as Elon Musk, are also directly responsible for the rise in hypernationalism and anti-minority sentiment within the United States as well as within Europe.
In pushing for a hyper-nationalistic, exclusionary identity, many Americans are normalized to this type of rhetoric and blame minorities and immigrants for the decline of the American economy. Yet it is precisely the economic plans that benefit the ultra wealthy which do the most damage to the economy, not the presence of minority working class people.
In creating and stoking the flames of exclusionary ideologies, the U.S. is also directly isolating itself from other countries whilst still believing that they have a right to these countries’ resources. America’s history of using war to reach for imperial influence goes all the way back to the Spanish-American War in which they took Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines as territories.
Since then, grasp for global power and influence has been a constant in American foreign policy, from the Marshall Plan, to the Cold War, to the War on Terror, and even to the country’s constant support of Israel.
“Successive U.S. governments have sought to protect and expand U.S. empire, eg, American interests in the Middle East — chief among them, maintaining a stable supply of oil and ensuring the longevity of the ‘American-centered global system.’” - Jewish Voice for Peace.
By creating a foreign policy entirely centered around American economic gain, the U.S. has alienated itself from the vast majority of the world. Even countries which have not been directly exploited are still under pressure by their citizens to cut ties with the US due to the country's modern colonial practices.
Trump, who undoubtedly knows America’s growing unpopularity, is in turn becoming more forceful in his attempt to maintain American influence. These attempts include vying for the Panama Canal, Greenland, and even Canada to become American territories.
Not to mention his breakdown of diplomatic relationships with countries like Ukraine and leaders within the EU in an attempt to establish a need for his economic policies. Global responses to these attempts are of course overtly negative as many worry for the safety and sovereignty of their own nations in the face of growing American imperialism.
It is no surprise that when faced with the possibility of an imperial power attempting to hold onto and grow their control, that other nations would reject them all together. Most countries, especially within the global south, were once victim to imperialist powers and understand what it was like to have suffered under colonial rule.
As such, even if not directly under threat by the U.S., the vast majority of countries will stand against American conquest if only for their own self preservation. This is also why many countries have announced retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. and have outwardly criticised Trump’s policies.
Many of the countries which condemn the U.S. now, will cut ties with the country in other ways. This will most likely include closing down foreign American military bases and operations as well as rejecting American involvement in foreign affairs.
On top of criticism from foreign nations, many American citizens themselves have become strongly opposed to both Trump’s administration and their country’s history of imperialism. From the pro-Palestine movement to the rise in protests against deportations, Americans are becoming more and more aware of the reality of their government’s ‘America First’ hyper-nationalistic policies. In turn, Trump’s administration has no choice but to start targeting those who disagree with him.
To continue down this path, Trump and the US will eventually alienate itself not just from the rest of the world but also from the majority of their own people. In doing so, trust in the government as an institution will be greatly lost and the time it will take to heal such wounds domestically and internationally will be more time than Trump or his administration has to give.