PRINT AS PDF

The Trump Administration has been in office for less than two weeks. Yet, it has already flouted legal constraints, undermined democratic norms, and destabilized global relations. It has unlawfully dismissed Inspectors General without cause, granted Elon Musk and his unelected, unaccountable DOGE broad influence over the federal workforce, threatened to seize the Panama Canal, unlawfully withheld Congressionally appropriated funds until legal and public pressure forced a reversal, and attempted an unconstitutional executive order to abolish birthright citizenship. He has also appointed unqualified and unethical individuals to senior leadership positions.

On Saturday, the Trump Administration escalated its disruptive policies by declaring economic war on two of the nation’s closest and most steadfast allies. It imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican products, disregarding the long-standing economic and security partnerships that bind the three countries. The Administration ignored the sacrifices and support both nations have provided to the U.S., including their assistance during California’s catastrophic wildfires. It also disregarded the mutually beneficial nature of North American trade, which sustains millions of livelihoods.

This abrupt shift in U.S. trade policy sends a stark message to both allies and adversaries: the United States is no longer a reliable actor on the world stage. This betrayal of close allies will have profound and lasting consequences:

• The Erosion of U.S. Leadership: The United States can no longer serve as the foundation of a global order that upholds democracy, freedom, and prosperity. Its actions undermine the credibility of the very system it once championed.
• Transactional Security Commitments: The Administration’s approach signals that U.S. security commitments are driven by short-term transactional interests rather than enduring strategic partnerships. As a result, allies can no longer depend on American assurances of protection and cooperation.
• Economic Volatility and Fragmentation: The United States’ willingness to sever economic ties abruptly increases global uncertainty, making trade relationships more fragile and unpredictable. This unpredictability threatens long-term economic stability worldwide.

These factors will inevitably drive a slow but fundamental restructuring of global alliances. Canada, Mexico, and other nations will hedge their bets by deepening economic and diplomatic ties with the European Union and China. Some of these shifts will directly undermine U.S. strategic and economic interests. A multipolar coalition of democracies, possibly anchored by the European Union, may emerge to sustain global democracy in America’s absence. At the same time, authoritarian regimes will seize the opportunity to consolidate power, exploiting a less cohesive and more fragmented international order.

The consequences of this fractured global landscape will be severe. The world will become more unstable, less prosperous, and increasingly unfree. Multilateral institutions that once upheld the rule of law will lose influence, replaced by a system where power, rather than principle, dictates international affairs. Global challenges such as pandemics, climate change, and security threats will become harder to address, as international cooperation deteriorates. Authoritarian states, particularly those with histories of territorial aggression such as Russia, will exploit weaker nations to secure strategic resources and expand their influence.

The precise shape of this new global order will depend on the depth of the vacuum left by America’s retreat from leadership and how other nations respond. For now, the United States’ credibility has been fundamentally weakened. The repercussions of this geopolitical break will play out over the years and decades to come.