Listening to the Trump administration talk about their policy ideas is a little bit like listening to someone with a serious inferiority complex. The number of times the idea comes up that America is “being cheated” or that other countries are “taking advantage” of America is far too high coming from the most powerful nation in the world. It’s true that America often has had to bear a heavy burden, financially or otherwise, in the many crises and problems that face the world. However, as the most powerful and influential nation for the past century, this comes with the territory. What the Trump administration seems to misunderstand is that increased responsibility accompanies increased power and influence. You can’t have one without the other. If Trump and his colleagues don’t want to have that responsibility anymore, that’s fine. Just don’t expect the United States’ position as leader of the world to stay the same afterward.
Recently, based on the recommendation of Elon Musk, the U.S has cut funding for USAID, America’s central aid agency and one the largest aid donors in the world. In the short term, this means that less aid will be available for those who desperately need it (McVeigh, 2025). However, similar to the U.S withdrawal from the WHO and the Paris Climate Accord, it’s not unthinkable that another country, like China, could step in to fill this void. In fact, there is speculation that this could already happen with China’s Belt and Road initiative. What Trump and his colleagues are missing out on when withdrawing from these types of agreements is that, while they do represent a significant financial obligation, they also compose part of the system of global governance. With the United States no longer fulfilling its obligations in these situations, other countries may see an opportunity to expand their own influence internationally (Davidson et al, 2025). In the future, when countries meet to discuss these issues and United States isn’t present at the negotiating table, it’s difficult to see how they will have any type of ability to influence future policy in the crucial fields of disease prevention and addressing climate change, among others. If the Trump administration doesn’t like having to fulfill obligations made to other countries, I seriously doubt they are going to enjoy it when other countries more powerful and influential than them can dictate the terms of engagement in both trade and diplomacy.
The Trump administration seems obsessed with the idea that the U.S has been scammed by other countries, vowing to impose tariffs and penalties on allies and competitors alike. However, part of being a leader often means bearing a heavier burden than others. For example, in the current conflict in Ukraine, Trump has often accused other NATO nations of not contributing enough to Ukraine’s defense. However, the reality is that, only the U.S economy is potent enough to provide the kind of financing Ukraine needs to mount a viable defense against Russia. Furthermore, Trump has now withdrawn funding completely from Ukraine and with the remaining NATO countries unable to compensate, it seems to be only a matter of time before Ukraine falls. If and when that happens, it will reflect very poorly on the United States, who is supposed to be taking the mantle on these types of issues (Murray, 2025). The Ukraine situation represents the awkward middle ground the United States finds itself in under the current administration. To lose Ukraine would be a horrible embarrassment, but at the same time, Trump is unwilling to provide aid that he perceives as being “unearned”. Considering the fact that Trump has consistently exhibited a lack of an ability to put two and two together, it is highly unlikely he will reverse course, and the U.S will suffer a shocking defeat both on the battlefield and in the battle for control of the international political arena.
If the United States no longer wants to bear the mantle of being the most powerful and influential nation in the world, there are many other countries that would be more than happy to take its place. However, it’s difficult to believe that after doing so, this period will not be looked upon in American history with regret and anger. It’s just too bad that most won’t notice the implications of these policies until it’s too late. Make no mistake, there will be absolutely nothing better or worse with a Chinese led world order, but it’s just disappointing that America is focused on the so called “injustice” of being a leader that it’s focusing its efforts on dismantling its own power structure as opposed to presenting viable competition to China with regards to addressing climate change, international poverty, diplomatic issues and so on. In other words, the rise of China may have been inevitable, but the pathetic disintegration of the United States government into a criminal enterprise certainly wasn’t.
References:
Murray, W. (2025, January 28). Ukraine war briefing: Shock as trump aid freeze hits Ukrainian causes. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/28/ukraine-war-briefing-shock-as-trump-aid-freeze-hits-ukrainian-causes
Davidson, H., & Hawkins, A. (2025, February 7). US cedes ground to China with “self-inflicted wound” of USAID shutdown, analysts say. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/07/donald-trump-usaid-shutdown-impact-china-relationship-funding
McVeigh, K. Guardian News and Media. (2025, February 20). How will trump and Musk’s freeze on USAID affect millions around the world? The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/feb/20/how-will-trump-and-musk-freeze-on-usaid-affect-millions-around-world