Numerous mainstream media outlets have reported for more than a year that Russia is bombing American businesses in Ukraine such as Coca-Cola and Cargill, and that the White House has shown no reaction. While the damage to American business in Ukraine has yet to be fully assessed, the irony is palpable. Trump and MAGA have made America anything but great. In fact, America is much worse off than it was on Jan. 20, 2025 the day of Trump’s inauguration.
Stealing Venezuelan oil does not make America great. It makes America a rogue state and Donald J. Trump and his family richer thieves. Making inane statements about conquering Greenland resulted in the loss of trust from all of Europe, not only Denmark. Making ludicrous references to Canada as the 51st state was simply stupid and offensive to our northern neighbor. This action brought a rupture in global relations to the world’s attention, suggesting America was not a friend and could not be trusted. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney will never trust or respect Donald J. Trump and he will carry this message as he has to all his allies and friends.
Commencing an unprovoked war in the Middle East was perhaps the worst. It revealed America as an imperialist state, its leadership – particularly Trump and Hegseth – as war criminals for indiscriminately killing children and inept since no one can point to a strategy. Meanwhile, the military exercise has achieved nothing. The alleged enriched uranium remains with the Iranians despite two wars: the 12-day war in June last year and the current two-and-a-half-month conflict, which is already a quagmire. It has proven only one thing: that America cannot win a war unless winning means simply shelling indiscriminately.
Aside from exhibiting criminality and imperialism, America has accomplished nothing. The theocracy in Iran remains with a nuclear program and enriched uranium that cannot be extricated without American boots on the ground. The American consumer has been palpably hit by the price of oil nearly doubling, and the war is 70% unpopular with the American people.
While the current theocratic regime in Iran is brutal, to better understand American-Iranian relations, we need to go back to World War II. Iran was an ally of America during World War II; America broke the alliance in 1953 when it installed its puppet dictator, the Shah. Trump does not know history and cannot be expected to. Currently, there are no grown-ups in the White House who can bring him up to speed.
Trump and MAGA have been disastrous in Ukraine. Hatred and narcissism is extremely ineffective and dangerous.
Even so, American-Iranian relations were significantly more stable and less dangerous only 10 years ago pursuant to an agreement under President Barack Obama. When Trump became president he abrogated that agreement. He had to. He hated everything that Obama did irrespective of reason. A combination of hatred and narcissism is extremely ineffective and dangerous.
It should be understood that America has made its share of inappropriate and often imperialistic acts over the last 100 years: President Roosevelt selling out Eastern Europe to Stalin at Yalta; Nixon installing a military thug in Chile in place of a democratically elected president (albeit a Marxist); atrocities on the battlefield in Vietnam, etc. There is no need to even mention President Truman, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Yet, in five years, Trump has managed to replicate all of America’s bad behavior from a century.
Getting back to Ukraine. America, Trump and MAGA have been disastrous in Ukraine. Frankly, Trump’s hostility towards Ukraine and friendliness towards Russia cannot be explained rationally, politically, or strategically except that he is working for the Russians with an unclear motive.
Surprisingly, this “switching sides” has not affected Ukraine as much as Trump and Vance had hoped. Ukraine has lost very little territory since Trump took office in 2025. In fact, Ukraine has become a world leader in military production and prowess while America has been in precipitous decline. Surprisingly, Ukraine holds many cards. Who is held in higher esteem by the international community: President Trump or President Volodymyr Zelensky?
The decline has manifested itself in both political and military terms. No one in the world today respects the United States. With the Iran fiasco few will fear the US. “Make America Great Again” has been turned on its head. Perhaps Trump and MAGA should start over by at the very least defending American business in Ukraine.
The views expressed in this opinion article are the author’s and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post.