It’s A Trump, Trump World — And Isn’t Getting Any Safer

-Analysis-

PARIS – The American president could be forgiven for the stream of superlatives he will inevitably  use to describe his accomplishments over the past five months. Modesty is not his strong suit, but one has to admit that Donald Trump is racking up successes. Or at least, apparent successes.

Trump’s latest wins are domestic: the passing of the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” as he dubbed it, by Congress, despite resistance from some Republican holdouts, the Supreme Court ruling in his favor against overly independent judges, and finally, a knockout victory against the CBS network, which agreed to pay $16 million to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library (in other words, to Trump himself) to settle his lawsuit against the broadcaster for an interview he didn’t like.

Internationally, Trump can brag that he bombed Iran, then stopped its war with Israel; swayed European NATO members to increase military spending, even being called “Daddy” by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte; and, though far less covered in the media, brokered a deal between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo over the conflict in eastern Congo. That’s a lot, isn’t it?

Substance and style, checks and balances

Then why call them “apparent successes”? Because, taking a closer look at Trump’s avalanche of achievements raises lots of questions. On substance and style. First, he’s changing the rules of the game to his advantage: he’s weakening key checks and balances, bending the system to expand presidential power. This isn’t good for American democracy.

On the international stage, he’s also changing the rules: it’s “America First” and “America alone.” Allies are willing to pay for U.S. protection, unilateralism is a must, and delivering results is only required in the very short-term.

Netanyahu is expected in Washington on Monday, and Trump could finally announce a ceasefire in Gaza.

For now, U.S. power is unmatched in the Middle East. This instills fear in Europeans worried about losing the American umbrella. Only China pushes back, as the sole true rival in a world dominated by Trump’s America.

Putin obsession, Netanyahu unleashed

So, does the Trump method work? With limits. Trump’s policy on Ukraine is faltering, worse still since he halted deliveries of some weapons and ammunition. Trump is obsessed with his relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, which has so far led him nowhere. Just look at his campaign pledge to end the war in 24 hours and compare that with today’s results.

Trump’s complacency towards another “strongman” he admires, Benjamin Netanyahu, has given the Israeli prime minister free rein in Gaza, where a major humanitarian and political tragedy is unfolding. Netanyahu is expected in Washington on Monday, and Trump could finally announce a ceasefire in Gaza.

This would obviously be huge news, welcome to both Palestinian civilians and Israeli hostages. But let’s not forget, a ceasefire is not the end of the story, and nothing Trump has said over the past five months offers much hope for a region in need of a lasting political solution.

Donald Trump is effective in his brutality, but the world he’s shaping is no safer. Watch out for the ticking time bombs he leaves behind.