The End of the American Century: How Trump’s War on Soft Power Is Handing Global Leadership to China

Trump has done more to damage America’s standing than we understand

The MAGA faithful want “America First,” but they don’t understand that is really “America Alone”

Since taking office in January (only eight months ago!), President Donald J. Trump has done more to damage the nation’s standing around the world than his supporters realize. Where they see strength in his bullying tactics, most people, experts and not, recognize that his actions are making us weaker and more vulnerable to threats.

This isn’t just because Trump’s clown car cabinet of sycophants is both incompetent and prone to wasting resources on policy initiatives that do nothing for the nation but please the president. This isn’t just because he sues everyone who disagrees with him, from universities to the news media, and they bend the knee. This isn’t just because he is trying to jerrymander the Democrats out of existence.

One of the main things he has done to destroy the nation is to end our influence around the globe we achieved due to our soft power. Through the end of the very effective and inexpensive U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the new attitude towards people who want to visit the country, and the constant bullying of our allies, we aren’t the same nation we once were.