We published this YouTube short this lunchtime:
This is the transcript:
Whoever is going to trust the USA again? For 80 years, the USA has led the Western world, and we've trusted it to do so.
Look, we've all known that the USA has acted in its own best interests at the end of the day, but they've been rational, they've been sensible, and they've been considerate of others, and that consideration has mattered.
But now, all of that has changed. Venezuela has been a tipping point, and it's now apparent that Donald Trump does not care about anybody but the USA. He is living up to what he said he would do before he was elected in 2024. The fact is, he's putting America first, and we are nowhere. But the result is obvious. When he threatens Greenland, when he threatens Canada, when he threatens elsewhere, what we know is that this is an unreliable partner.
Trust has gone, and it doesn't matter what happens now. Even if there's a new American president from the Democrats elected next time around, and they seem entirely reasonable, the basis for trust has gone. The USA is no longer a reliable partner for Europe and other countries in the world. We are facing a whole new political economy, and it's a pretty scary place to be right now because we've got no idea where we are going in a world without a rational USA in it.
Tickets are now on sale for the Funding the Future live event in Cambridge on 28 February. Tickets and details are available here.
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Given that 77 million voted for him despite everything does suggest it will take a time before we can feel we trust the US.
There might be a silver cloud will be closer relations with Europe and to undo some of the follies of Brexit and even neo-liberalism. An alternative political economy could emerge.
The American people are increasingly diverse and a backward looking Christian nationalism will lose momentum. I know a few Americans who think as we do and get the impression that Trump will trip himself up as evil often does.
It is, as you say, Richard, scary and you were right to have anticipated it over the past year or so.
I am genuinely not sure that we will ever trust the US again.
The one thing I’m quite sure of is that I will not be visiting the country again in my lifetime: given my social media track record I very much doubt it will ever be safe for me to do so.
How can I trust a country where I do not believe that my safety will be guaranteed, by choice of its government?
you are right. Don’t go there.
But when I was the age of your sons, people were still saying similar things about the Germans. It depends what they do about him.
The US has just pulled out of 66 international organizations and treaties, many related to climate and labour. The US administration is essentially an enemy of humanity now. They are cartoon villains. They are the island nation of Madripoor (one for the comic book fans). The takeover of the US government by corporate interests is now in its endgame. They are determined to strip away any obstacle to the rapacious consumption of all resources. What will stop them? The fact that most of the world doesn’t want that, or like that, or even understand that. They are at odds with actual human nature and can only fail. No society in history has survived this level of inequality and lack of foresight.
Your conclusion is significant.
Theb task is to oprevent them dragging us down with them.
The game plan goes way back as documented in Nancy MacLean’s book “Democracy in Chains”.
Is Trump et al going to allow the midterms? Can’t see it myself!
I also have my doubts
That would be the acid test for the American people, because it’s only they now who can stop this slide into insanity.
Need to drain the swamp. Corporates have replaced the elites.
Wild West reappeared. T will be selling the film rights.
A good short, Richard, with some punchy lines. Good use of anaphora to drive a point home.
Thanks. Practice helps. I get a lot.
Did we actually trust the States, or did we have no choice once the beast had been awakened in WWII? And even before that?
Having read Michael Hudson’s ‘Super Imperialism’ (2003), charting U.S. dominance from 1914, I’m not so sure trust was a big player it was more like “with fraternity on your lips, you declare war against mankind” as I think Jeremy Bentham once said to the French in their pomp. Hudson also points out that a lot of trade is actually conducted as form of warfare and if you want to ‘dominate’ as the U.S. frequently does, what you are really looking at is a monopolist mindset.
As you allude, it has always been MAGA stateside. Maybe what I’m saying is that what is different this time is that American foreign policy has now followed the Neo-liberal path we see in their rapacious finance system right to the end zone.
That is we nothing left to take, it takes anything left at all, and this means not discerning friend from foe – sod the consequences, sod the collateral loses (trust, faith, peace, unity) just grab anything valuable that you can. God Bless America (and only America it seems).
So for me this is not necessarily about trust going forward. It is about the management of the U.S. – containment, sticking together, holding the line between wrong and right because in essence I put forward that all America has really done under Trump is reveal its true self that also represses many of its own people domestically. One thing is for sure. Europe and elsewhere will have to grow up right quick and make new friends.
And let us not ignore the good human beings who live in the states and may still have some say in the matter – from politicians to intellectuals to the man and woman on main street. Are they that different to the rest of us? I don’t think so. I am more inclined to put my faith in them at this moment.
I think both need each other to create alliances of strength.
There will be good in both groups, and they of course overlap.
Look at the ideologies that have dominated American culture, a warped version of Christianity, neoliberalism, Friedman, Hayek, all people and ideas that misunderstand human nature and mistake greed for society. Ayn Rand is a favourite author of the American elite. The American political machine has no idea how at odds they are with most of their own population, and the rest of the world. Their money can only buy off so many foreign governments, their military can only bully much before they collapse. If politics in downstream of culture, the only part of culture the American Right has managed to capture is online, bringing together people they probably would have been able to influence anyway. Our actual culture, our books, music, film and TV does not reflect the ideals and values of the American government. The Republican party is currently equivalent to the Aztec priests, sacrificing more and more captives to legitimise their waning power.
Thanks, Tim.
Much to agree with. The people “on main street” (UK or USA) have no agency/no voice. However, politically & internationally the USA has only ever been interested in “what’s good for America. ” Alliances? only as long as they are/were in the interests of the USA. But times & people change. The old political order stuffed US citizens and Trump is the result.
Europe? Time to form a military alliance with the EU & EFTA (Euromacht?) pool the nukes and make it clear that Europe won;t be pushed around anymore. Economically, the Europe grouping is far stronger than the USA & whilst the navy is nowt to shout about – troops on the ground is good.
Flies in the onitment? AfD in Germany, RN in France and various other right-whinge nutters – supported by Trump & Co. Political mob in Europe need to get their act together. In the case of the UK, Trump-mini-me/Fart-rage – dunno what the answer is. Polanski & the greens? one trick pony (do we hear of any other greens?) LINO’s dead, Lib-Dems – weak weak weak. Your Party? or would that be “What Party”. It is almost as if it was planned – the crowning of Fart-rage the people’s messiah.
Trump has shown the US will act unilaterally, from Venezuela to threats against Greenland and Canada, shattering trust built over decades. The dollar’s status as the world’s primary reserve currency has long allowed the US to project power, run deficits, and enforce its laws globally, but that privilege is fragile. Countries cannot afford to simply accept Washington’s overreach; they must diversify reserves, use alternative currencies, and develop independent trade and financial systems. If they fail to say no, the world will continue to subsidise American power and unilateralism, giving the US a free pass to act without consequence. The era when the dollar guaranteed automatic compliance is ending, and nations must prepare for a reality in which cooperation depends on mutual respect, not coercion.
One practical reality of the current geopolitical situation is the increasing urgency in the technology and information security sectors to address the risks of over reliance on US based cloud services (M365, Azure, Oracle etc.). Developers are quite rightly concerned that the foundation of the services they offer in Europe could be switched off at the behest of the current US administration, eg:
https://www.scottishlegal.com/articles/icc-to-ditch-microsoft-following-us-sanctions
Not something I would ever have expected to see in my career, but here we are. Trust is indeed lost.
Wait, you guys used to trust the US?
https://imgflip.com/i/agu5sx
The only difference with Trump is that the mask has slipped and he doesn’t bother covering up the naked imperialism.
I qualified my suggestion, please note. And again, as I am having to say more often, shall we live in the real world here?
I have been to the USA twice, the last time was in 2003. I won’t be going again. I can’t.
During Trump’s first term, he decreed that no one with a criminal record of any sort can fly over American airspace. I have spent convictions from my teenage years many moons ago.
Unfortunately despite there being many millions of decent people there, America is no longer in any way a decent country.
Noted.
Join the club.
I see that the late Jeffrey Epstein’s friend, yacht-loving, mortgage borrowing, passport-facilitating, Mandelson, is sounding off again in the alt-right press.
His temporary appointment (Mandelson only ever does temporary) as Ambassador to the USA reminded me of when the USA sent us a Fascist sympathising, Jew-hating Jo Kennedy, as their Ambassador from 1938-40.
https://kirkcenter.org/reviews/joseph-kennedy-american-fascist/
His message about appeasement of war-mongering fascists, and business doing business with fascists, was remarkably similar to the poisonous drivel spouted by Mandelson in the far-right extremist publication The Spectator today.
Mandelson is the political equivalent of Japanese Knotweed. Really difficult to get rid of.
Just because we’ve had fifty-odd years of relatively consistent neo-liberal thinking dominating policy in Washington and producing guff for our consumption doesn’t take away the underlying vagaries of policy determination in Washington. In 1965, Johnson’s chief speechwriter Richard Goodwin quit the White House and came to the Institute where I was a research assistant. I heard at first hand that the people briefing the President couldn’t explain what calling the Vietnamese nationalists ‘communist’ meant, thought they were beholden to Vietnam’s old enemy China, and couldn’t provide a justification for promoting Diem, member of a niche urban religious minority, as an appropriate bulwark against fundamental land reform. And no one dug into such willful ignorance. Worse, despite repeated failures. Johnson continued to accept the generals’ assurances that if they were given yet men and materiel more they could finish the job. Because the President couldn’t be seen to go against military advice.
Later. all this was published and a number of things tweaked, but those two underlying sources of instability in American foreign policy have never been addressed let alone cured. Therefore, Washington was and remains more of a problem for those who believe it’s their friend than those who suspect it’s an adversary.
Thinks, Tim.
What can I say? Nothing has been learned.
I keep thinking of the old joke about America having been late in for the last 2 world wars so being determined to be first in at the next.
By starting it…
It will take a generation before trust returns. 1/3 voted for him and another 1/3 thought ‘whatever’ and could not be bothered. There has been minimal leadership to push back against the Trump regime with a few honourable exceptions. Politicians, business, law, military, state institutions – and the church – happy to go along with it.
Hannah Arendt would recognise all the symptoms
Agreed
What this moment really exposes is that reliability in international affairs is measured in actions, not slogans. My grandfather used to say that when the bugle sounds, you learn very quickly who turns up and who doesn’t — and that lesson stays with you. The issue now isn’t sentiment, it’s predictability. Once a partner shows that its commitments can be suspended at will, trust becomes impossible to rebuild on the old terms. That’s why Europe needs to start thinking in terms of strategic self‑reliance rather than inherited assumptions about who will always be there. They have proven however, to be very reliable accountants, especially when it comes to presenting the bill for their services.
As a US citizen who has lived most of life in my homeland, I disagree with your assessment that Donald Trump is putting the US first. He is putting himself first. Himself & the super wealthy. Extreme Pleonexia. He & his regime are out to destroy the US & take down the rest of the world with it.
Thanks.
And accepted.
But the view from outside that he is the US right now is hard to avoid.
I accept that two thirds of US citizens and rewidents loathe him.
I will try to keep that in mind. Your agency is vital. Go well.
I fear that trust in America has been broken for at least a generation.
Please be aware, though, of the danger of repeating the phrase ‘putting America first.’ This label is used as an excuse for violence against others and should not be simply accepted as a justification.
If you threatened your neighbours with seizing their property or possessions, and told your local community that you and your family will no longer be supporting them should they need your help, would that be good for your household? Is that putting your family first or does it damage their standing in the eyes of others?
‘America First’ is used as a pretext for treating others badly; used in the way it is at the moment what else could it mean?
Surely if you want to put your family first you wouldn’t damage their standing in the wider world, leading to their isolation and triumphalism, and being seen as bullies?
Most people dislike a bully.
Thanks.
Noted.
A good argument.
“Please be aware, though, of the danger of repeating the phrase ‘putting America first.’ This label is used as an excuse for violence against others and should not be simply accepted as a justification”.
Unfortunately, it’s not the first phrase, or word, or collection of words, that have been twisted and contorted beyond recognition by North American “English”.
Purely, due to their inability to understand definitions, should not and cannot be used as a warning to those who can!
My American (and immigrant Scots-American) friends all understood the MAGA/America First meme very well and some have bought-into the rhetoric. Doesn’t make any of them bad people!
Similarly, most Scots, Irish, or Welsh (even some English) nationalists would find nothing ominous in phrasing that their country should be “first” in their thoughts and transactions… perhaps it is the similarities between MAGA & Reform/National Front movement, based in England, that waries you in making that warning?
To re-word your analogy; “notifying your neighbours that you would no longer enable them to use a part of your property, as you need it to forward your own family’s benefit and warned your community that you may not assist them, as before, if their values did not match your own.”
As far as” damaging” goes, I think most reasonable persons can reliably separate the actions of the government of a “state”, from it’s population, no?
From this discussion, it seems that we, those contributing to this discourse anyway, agree that it’s going to be difficult for any civilized (you know what I mean) country to decide that it can once again engage in any way and with a decent measure of trust, with the US.
It therefore seems that as, even before Trump, relationships with the US usually involved moral erosion as well as pecuniary, loss, the sooner we start dealing with the US as little as possible and in any way. the better.
So we should, in unison with other countries where possible, shake free of any shackles that bind us.
Thus:
Do as little business with the US as possible
Create our own HMG run credit card system and end dependence on US companies
Create our own quango run Uber style system
Create our own ”person in the street’ banking system (a new Giro)
Develop our own totally US independent weapons systems
Hack the operating systems for US controlled weaponry.
Strictly vet incoming Americans
Don’t compete in the World Football Cup (and replace it with another competition held in Canada)
Form a customs union with the EU
Crack down on US owned companies in matters of compliance (water, electricity, care homes etc. interests)
Develop our own AI systems (and get Sir Demis back to do it) and ensure that it is very onerous for US owned data centres to be built and operated
Prohibit US takeovers of UK businesses.
Etc..
…
Everybody will have their own ideas.
All this will not amount to an overnight ultimatum as most of these measures will take time to establish but will amount to a gradual reverse Boston Tea Party and slow Declaration of Independence.
To be clear, I think (know) that Americans Louis Armstrong the finest musician of all time and Rogers and Hammerstein the same in musicals.
Thanks
But Sondheim wrote the best musicals.
I am an American citizen.
I would like to ask the people here to remember that beginning with Eleanor Roosevelt and her elected husband Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the United States Congress and people have passed laws and stood for ethics beneficial to the American public and to the world. We have, in my entire life, fought the battles of racism, sexism, and authoritarianism, of capital’s wish to destroy regulation, of right wing white Christianity to destroy multiculturalism and the Constitutional right to freedom from any religious law. We have analyzed and published analyses of falsehoods – remember the Pentagon Papers – we have fought against unjust wars and crooked presidents, we have fought against dishonest public education and school boards, we have fought and lost and been beaten by the money.
But we have by god fought.
Please do not agree among yourselves that Americans are monolithically ignorant, belligerent, stupid, evil, aggressive, self-serving monsters.
I would appreciate it.
Can we get past this evil and restore our sanity in the coming 5 years? I hope so. But I can’t move to another country.
I am an American citizen. This country is mine for which to fight. Even when I lose again.
Agreed, entirely, and understood.
You may find this substack posting https://www.readtheline.ca/p/matt-gurney-we-will-never-fucking reporting of the latest Halifax International Security Forum on point.
Thanks for that Fred S.
Your link exposes a really interesting factor running beneath all of this – that some in the U.S. and maybe in (former) allies believe that the Trump era is just a blip and it will blow over. This indicates that some are not taking this as seriously as they should be. And that there are scumbags who will take the place of those leaving who will be thoroughly signed up to Trump’s aggressive stance and the blip might well become the new normal.
If the the U.S. is not to be trusted again, then the rest of us need to build up trust between ourselves very quickly.
More importantly for me, the West needs to start to review its political architectures root and branch – and at the heart of that I’m afraid is looking at global finance and bringing it to heel. Trump is a product of the secretive world of finance that has got into this state.