American Renewal

For decades, there has been talk of American decline—fueled by perceived failures in wars such as Vietnam, Iraq, and, most recently, the retreat from Afghanistan. Added to this are concerns about economic and military overstretch, the rise of China, and the reassertion of Russia.

However, this perception is largely wishful thinking and fails to reflect the global political reality. What we are witnessing under Donald Trump is not decline, but a radical exercise in maintaining and expanding American global power. Trump’s approach is not about preserving the post–World War II international order, which he sees as outdated and obstructive to U.S. hegemony—but about renewing it to better serve American dominance, particularly against the challenges posed by China, Russia, and even Europe.

Trump’s consistent, undiplomatic criticism of Presidents Biden and Obama reflects his belief that their policies weakened American power—allowing China to grow unchecked in both military and economic domains, and burdening the U.S. financially through ongoing support for Ukraine, NATO, and what he views as a “free ride” for Europe.

This critique also underscores what Trump sees as a lack of foresight under Biden in preventing China from leapfrogging in key technologies—particularly artificial intelligence.

In response, the Trump administration, even while out of office, outlined a radical vision to maintain and expand American global dominance. This vision is rooted in foreign policy realignment and economic nationalism, with a central goal: direct confrontation with China and, by extension, Europe.

This approach also factored in the long-term impact of AI on American employment and tax revenues. As automation threatens traditional jobs and tax bases, Trump’s strategy included offsetting losses through trade tariffs and a revival of domestic manufacturing.

Key Actions Undertaken by the Trump Administration:

1. Neutralizing Russia: Aimed to end the Ukraine conflict on terms favorable to Russia, including the removal of NATO forces from its borders—thereby ensuring Russia would not align with China against the U.S.

2. Destabilizing Europe Politically: Supported far-right movements and stoked nationalism to divide the European Union and weaken its collective strength.

3. Encouraging German Militarization: The U.S. remained silent as Germany removed its debt ceiling and committed over $1 trillion to defense and industrial development—marking a significant shift in German policy with potential strategic implications.

4. Launching a Trade and Tariff War: The U.S. economic establishment agreed to a confrontational decoupling from China, starting with broad 10% tariffs. China was eventually singled out for tariffs exceeding 130%, prompting retaliatory tariffs of over 100%. Europe halted its reciprocity policies under Trump’s pressure.

5. Public Messaging: Trump warned Americans to brace for “short-term pain” in return for “long-term gain,” preparing the nation for economic turbulence. He secured support from key economic stakeholders for this radical realignment.The Immediate Fallout:Markets were shaken. Trillions were wiped off U.S. bonds and equities. The dollar fell. Oil prices tumbled. Inflation warnings and recession fears loomed both in the U.S. and globally. The financial and political establishments were rattled.Trump, sensing the nervousness, paused the escalation for 90 days—though not without chastising the establishment for lacking resolve, famously stating:“Somebody had to pull the trigger… people were getting yippy.”

Despite the pause, Trump had achieved a strategic goal: isolating China as the main target, under the guise of general trade measures. In effect, the U.S. had declared an economic war on China.

China responded in kind. Its foreign minister made clear:“If the U.S. decides not to care about the interests of the U.S. itself, China and the rest of the world, and is determined to fight a tariff and trade war, China’s response will continue to the end.”

Meanwhile, as U.S. markets began recovering, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a record $1 trillion defense spending package. This was a powerful signal: the American dollar remained underpinned by overwhelming military and state power. The message was clear—American leadership was not in decline, but being radically redefined.

Conclusion

America is not retreating from global leadership—it is renewing it through a confrontational, unapologetic recalibration of its global strategy. The economic and geopolitical war with China and Europe is no longer implicit—it is official.