A superpower gone rogue

Every day, we see a new scene of violence in the United States committed by government agents against American citizens and residents. On a daily basis, we hear the US president or his deputies hurling threats to invade a country, overthrow a foreign government, or bomb another nation.

From being the beacon of democracy and avowed champion of civil and political rights, the US has become the newest member of the gang of rogue states. From the kind of noise and optics coming from President Donald Trump himself, the US has overshadowed Russia, China, and even North Korea as the number one threat to world peace.

It wasn’t long ago when it was totally unthinkable for American security officers to roam the streets wearing masks to conceal their identities. It wasn’t too long ago when it was completely unimaginable for Americans to be arrested, even physically maltreated, without any court-issued warrant or outside of the context of a crime being committed in public view.

We see peaceful demonstrators exercising their freedom of speech or freedom to protest, and yet, they are taken into custody and detained for days. We see people being arrested even if they are merely caught legitimately taking photos or videos of actions committed by security agents in full public view. It is appalling to see immigration agents going to grocery stores, gas stations, parking lots, and even schools to interrogate people—targeted because of their race or accent—who are instantaneously asked to show proof of their American citizenship, failing which they are summarily arrested and detained. It’s also horrendous to see the same immigration agents knocking on house doors and forcing themselves in, even without court-issued warrants.

It is horrible that even American citizens are unlawfully being arrested by immigration agents. It is also dreadful to learn how undocumented migrants are maltreated under subhuman prison conditions. Even Pope Leo XIV has been prompted to publicly condemn the mistreatment of migrants by the US government.

How should the world react to a superpower that has become the world’s villain-in-chief and tyrant of the world? How should the people of the world respond to the mightiest nation on Earth that maltreats its own people, and bullies, oppresses, and exploits other countries? How should countries deal with a world power that is creating economic and security chaos?

The world should make Americans feel that until Trump is replaced, it is a winter season to cringe in shame as a US citizen on the world stage. Trump and his “Make America Great Again” supporters have the notion that the world revolves around their country. To a certain point, they may be correct, but only because the rest of the world allows it. America must be made to feel ostracized by the rest of the world for as long as it is ruled by Trump and leaders of his kind, who subscribe to the creed that might makes right. It must feel the revulsion of the rest of the world with a worldwide chorus of online protesters who will constantly shame the Trump regime. The ostracism and revulsion may not matter to Trump and his cabal of bullies, who all brim with arrogance and conceit, but it will be felt by a US citizenry that can deliver the ostracism and revulsion that will impact and affect Trump and his minions. Americans must make their members of Congress feel that they will be soundly booted out of their kennels if they continue to be docile Trump poodles.

It will be hard to decouple economically from the US because many of its outputs and its huge market are deeply integrated into the world economy, but every effort that makes a dent in the US economy will reverberate with impact for the Trump administration that made rosy promises to its citizens. Avoid the US as a destination. Patronize alternatives to American products, if feasible. Concerned and disturbed Americans are also calling for these kinds of boycotts by the rest of the world.

The Trump administration has forsaken its shared responsibility with the rest of humanity to help communities in desperate need of health and food assistance, even if it profits tremendously from its trade with many of the countries in dire need of help. It has abandoned its responsibility to mitigate climate change by escalating business practices that worsen environmental tragedies in different corners of the world. It has withdrawn from international institutions that are platforms for consensus in advancing humanity’s shared concerns.

The Trump regime has fomented multiple kinds of de facto wars on the home front and on the global front. It is spreading hate, scattering violence, and making the world an even more dangerous place for all of humanity.

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