Things Fall Apart

The indispensable nation is about to become optional

Trump's imposition of unilateral tariffs on friends and foes alike is based on the assumption that the U.S. is the indispensable nation. However, "indispensable" is a formula where the benefits of the equation must demonstrably outweigh the problems it creates. This is a crucial point to remember as he is reportedly about to announce "bone-crushing" tariffs on China and India.

Applying the logic of Abraham Lincoln's famous quote, you can bully some countries all of the time, and all countries some of the time, but you cannot bully all countries all of the time.

The lone resistance to Trump's unilateral tariffs against 180 countries, initially led by China, is gaining momentum and will soon become a flood.

Countries are coming to the realization that the U.S. is a toxic, unreliable partner that respects neither human life nor the sovereignty of nations. Fueled by Trump's on-again, off-again tariff and sanction threats, his arbitrary, self-serving tactics are isolating America, not making it great again.

Unfortunately, a frustrated and fearful Trump continues to deny reality, clinging to the fantasy that doubling down is a winning strategy.