For centuries, humanity has built a system that prizes cooperation over conquest. From learning to control fire to inventing vaccines, we first dared to imagine new ways of living—and then made them real. Over time, hard-won tools like diplomacy, international law, and free trade became pillars of a global rules-based order. They felt as permanent as gravity.
But 100 days into his term, President Donald Trump is shaking those pillars to their foundations. His aggressive tariff hikes and blunt threats against allies—from eyeing Greenland to warning Canada—are tearing up decades of careful work. And history teaches us that when the strong bully the weak, the fallout is rarely kind.
Tariffs Over Expertise
Economists and trade specialists warned that steep U.S. duties would ripple through world markets, driving up prices for American consumers and provoking retaliation. Yet Mr. Trump heralded each round of tariffs as a triumph of deal-making genius. In reality, these levies have created waves of fear and uncertainty:
- Manufacturers worry about supply-chain breakdowns and higher input costs.
- Farmers fear lost export markets for their crops.
- Retailers brace for pricier shelves.
By treating tariffs like a blunt instrument, Trump is normalizing economic aggression the world over.
Allies on Edge
Diplomacy has long rested on mutual respect: allies don’t coerce, they consult. But Trump’s rhetoric has borrowed more from the boardroom bully than the statesman. He’s mused about buying Greenland, mused about making Canada the 51st state, and even hinted at seizing resources by force if “necessary.”
Such talk hasn’t just insulted friends—it has broken their faith in U.S. leadership. When a superpower abandons the give-and-take of diplomacy, it leaves a vacuum—one that rivals like Russia and China are all too happy to fill.
“Might Makes Right” in Reverse
Trump’s worldview—where “might is right” and deals are won by muscle—flies in the face of eight decades of post-World War II progress. Back then, the United States helped craft institutions that curbed aggression, settled disputes, and encouraged trade. The result was an era of unprecedented peace, prosperity, and innovation.
Today, Trump suggests Ukraine should simply bow to Russian force because “Russia has all the cards.” He even hints that Ukraine’s president bears blame for defending his own country. Such thinking turns history on its head: it rewards the aggressor and punishes the victim.
When Bravado Meets Reality
Trump’s style traces back to his upbringing in a tough New York real-estate world, where wealthy landlords evicted tenants who couldn’t pay. That “own the room” mentality has served him in business, but geopolitics doesn’t work the same way. Other nations don’t bend so easily, and markets have already begun to balk at his experiments.
When Trump threatened universal tariffs on friends and foes alike, global stock markets tumbled. Even after he backed off immediate implementation, the damage was done: companies paused hiring, investment plans stalled, and consumers braced for pain.
Lessons from the Past
History offers countless examples of empires that rose by force, only to crumble under their own weight. The Roman, Ottoman, and British empires all found that raw power could conquer lands but not hearts—nor could it sustain long-term stability.
When leaders break the rules, the world soon forgets the benefits of cooperation. Trust erodes, trade grinds to a halt, and economic growth stalls. Above all, ordinary people pay the price for policy experiments they never asked for.
No One Is an Island
America’s strength has always come from its alliances and open markets. By turning its back on those ties, Trump risks isolating the nation he leads. No country—no matter how powerful—can thrive in a vacuum.
The real test for today’s leaders will be balancing national interests with collective well-being. If the United States retreats behind tariffs and threats, it may find itself alone on a shrinking stage.
Read Also: White House Rebukes Amazon’s Plan to Highlight Tariff Charges on U.S. Products
