He is the talk of the town, regardless of the outcome, win, lose, or tie. And who could argue with that? Not the audience at his debate with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, which he recently bragged was wildly enthusiastic about his comments, despite the fact there was no live audience. In some ways, he’s not mistaken. Remarkably, he might find himself, in just a few weeks, re-elected as president of the United States.
While it remains to be seen if American voters will reject Trump, what becomes increasingly apparent is his own decline, which appears both chaotic and frenzied. Yet, he could still be chosen to govern (if one can still use that term) this nation. What does that say about our so-called all-American society?
Quite a lot, unfortunately. Most notably, it suggests that the term “all-American” is becoming less applicable by the day.
Not only is the United States on a downward trajectory as a global force, but it could also be unraveling internally, even as a democracy.
Can you believe it was just over 30 years ago, following the Soviet Union’s collapse, that this country—potentially to be led again by Donald Trump—was viewed (especially in Washington) as the ultimate superpower on Earth? In some respects, it truly was. By then, Europe’s imperial giants were long gone, Russia was reeling post-Cold War, and China had not yet commenced its ascent. However, it’s now much more evident that following a series of unending military defeats overseas, America’s global dominance has been waning. Its influence in directing world affairs seems largely a relic of the past. The increasingly fragmented United States clearly represents an empire in decline.
Turning America Bizarre Again?
Make no mistake, the U.S. still wields immense power with its military and nuclear capabilities. Just look at the latest Pentagon budget or the more than 40,000 U.S. troops, warships, aircraft carriers, fighter jets, among other assets, stationed in a Middle East now being aggressively targeted by Israel. However, to gauge how much the once-dubbed “Lone Superpower” has fallen, consider that years ago, an Israeli leader like Benjamin Netanyahu wouldn’t have dared disregard Washington’s wishes regarding Middle Eastern affairs. Once, figures like Netanyahu could not ignore the commands of the very nation that heavily armed his country, and instead did whatever he wanted, wreaking havoc in his region.
It’s now clear that the United States is no longer the sole superpower (and not just because of China’s rise). Yes, the Pentagon’s budget is still incredibly large and growing, but a shift has certainly occurred. Consider the symbolic (and literal) significance of Joe Biden, the oldest president in U.S. history at 81 years old (Ronald Reagan left office at 77). Worse still, if Donald Trump is re-elected this November and completes his term, he would surpass Biden, setting a new age record.
While the term “lone superpower” has faded from discourse concerning the U.S., the full realization of America’s imperial decline hasn’t fully sunk in domestically, even among those who no longer view it as the primary global power. It’s not just that it has lost significant grandeur and influence abroad, but also that it is visibly disintegrating internally—a crucial aspect often overlooked in discussions of imperial decline. The decline of a major global power is rarely just an external affair.
Regardless of whether Donald Trump wins or loses in the 2024 election, the issues facing this country are profound, and in four years, the situation could be nearly unthinkable.
Though often not discussed or acknowledged, this decline is occurring here and now, within the increasingly fractured United States. At this moment, the symbolic and literal decline of former president Donald Trump, who is running for office again, is evident as he delivers speeches in a declinist tone, yet still enjoys the support of numerous MAGA enthusiasts. (By the way, given recent developments, shouldn’t we consider redefining MAGA as Making America Grotesque Again?)
During these years of imperial decline, Trump has captured an almost unprecedented level of attention domestically. At times, he seems to be the sole focus of the news. But here’s the peculiar reality: Trump, his MAGA movement, and the 2024 election are rarely perceived for what they truly signify. He, his movement, and the 20 million military-style AR-15 rifles now owned mostly by White males aged 40 to 65 who support him, are the clearest indicators of an imperial power in decline still perceived by its leaders as the greatest on Earth.
Indeed, Trump is a living example of a nation unraveling. Consider that if a candidate loses the upcoming election, he (singularly a ‘he’) will almost certainly claim it was stolen, asserting he was the true winner. His heavily armed supporters will likely concur and act unpredictably, potentially destructively. Alternatively, if he wins, the political landscape in four years could be unrecognizably altered. If you doubt this, examine the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, which outlines the direction Trump’s former officials believe the country should take. Thus, the United States is not merely declining as a global power but may also be disintegrating internally, potentially even ceasing to function as a democracy. If that doesn’t embody “decline,” what does?
Imagine, if I could resurrect my long-deceased parents and recount the astonishing tale of Donald Trump’s rise to the presidency, or how the Supreme Court, with six conservative justices (three appointed by Trump), essentially shielded him from legal repercussions for certain actions during his presidency, they would scarcely believe it. Nor would they have thought it plausible that a “businessman” with no political experience, who endured numerous bankruptcies and was most famous for hosting a reality TV show, The Apprentice, could become the president of the United States.
Trump’s 2016 victory should have immediately been recognized as a definitive sign of American imperial decline—the weakening and potential collapse of the U.S.’s global stature manifesting in its domestic politics. A win in the upcoming November election could signify both the figurative and literal bankruptcy of the American system, while his defeat, in a nation bristling with firearms, could redefine chaos within the imperial homeland.
In essence, whether Donald Trump wins or loses the 2024 election, the challenges facing this country are profound, and in four years, its condition could be almost unimaginable. It might be governed by an aging, erratic former leader or, even with Kamala Harris as president, find itself in an increasingly divided and violent state of mind. It will no longer be the self-proclaimed “leader of the free world,” nor likely a fully functional global superpower (though the potential chaos or catastrophic violence resulting from its “fall,” including possible conflicts with China, is hard to fathom).
Take It Easy, Perhaps?
And let’s not overlook that this might be the least of our concerns. As we’ve seen with the recent hurricanes Helene and Milton, the social and political devastation that may lie ahead for this country is paralleled by another type of devastation becoming a regular part of life here and globally. Whether it’s increasingly severe storms or more devastating fires and floods, we’re on a planet that’s headed for serious trouble.
The reality is, we all now inhabit a different Earth, one destined to endure catastrophic weather of every conceivable kind. Climate change is undeniably our new reality, and the destruction has only just begun.
As more regions on this planet become increasingly uninhabitable and more people start migrating in search of habitable areas—yes, Donald, climate change is indeed creating a new class of “illegal immigrants”—imagine a president who still insists that global warming is a “hoax.” Imagine a president who, above all, plans to “drill, baby, drill” from his first day back in office—in a country that’s already the top producer of oil and natural gas.
It’s almost as if climate change has seized the declining global power of the United States and is acting accordingly.
This should certainly be seen as the definition of creating a dysfunctional nation on an increasingly dysfunctional planet, where the old imperial ambitions of many “great powers” will increasingly become irrelevant.
Yes, the Middle East is now engulfed in even greater chaos as the Biden administration continues to support Netanyahu, who is drawing more of the region into disastrous conflict, all while barely consulting with Washington’s top officials. Nevertheless, be assured of one thing: The chaos seen abroad is, in a strange way, already returning home. If Donald Trump returns to the White House, we’ll need a new term entirely to describe this country, other than “lone superpower.”
Could “the planet’s great foolish power” be a fitting label?
And keep in mind, despite China’s rise, it remains uncertain whether there will be another lone superpower or even a truly great power on a planet that’s literally heading towards catastrophic conditions, with land and ocean temperatures already hitting record highs and much worse yet to come.
You might almost think that climate change has taken hold of the weakening global power of the United States and is acting accordingly. We seem to be living on a post-imperial planet where—if only—the best approach would be: take it easy, perhaps.
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