[thomassmith65]

The Trump administration seems eager to pit America against the rest of the world's nations, which altogether comprise 8 billion people.

The USA has a population of around 0.4 billion.

Until a future administration corrects course, the future will be one demoralizing failure after another.

[thomassmith65]

I wrote "pit America against the rest of the world's nations" not based on this news alone, but on the totality of the past six months. For example:

https://whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-Natio...

It's hard to think of a plausible scenario in which America carries on like this using hard power alone.

[23434dsf]

I am sorry, but the damage is already done. It cannot be repaired. NEVER!

[hulitu]

With a little bread and circus, the voters and "the allies" will forget everything. Happenes all the time.

[nozzlegear]

> I am sorry, but the damage is already done. It cannot be repaired. NEVER!

I hate to invoke Godwin's law, but Germany was once the most reviled country in the world and is now, arguably, the most influential country in the European Union. Clearly, damage much worse than what the US has done over Trump's two terms can be repaired over time.

[doom2]

Unfortunately, that path back for Germany required holding those responsible accountable, in some cases fatally so. I don't see that happening here. Nothing will prevent or dissuade Trump's political allies from continuing his movement. Yes they may lose an election here or there, but I don't see any indication that MAGA is anywhere close to becoming politically toxic. Until a post-WWII style reckoning can be had, I am not optimistic that reputational repair can happen.

[nozzlegear]

> Yes they may lose an election here or there, but I don't see any indication that MAGA is anywhere close to becoming politically toxic.

I think we're on the cusp of it right now. The ICE murders make it more and more untenable and indefensible for the average American to defend without sounding crazy. But even if this doesn't do it, or an invasion of Greenland somehow doesn't do it, the big question will be: can MAGA even survive as a movement without Trump?

> Until a post-WWII style reckoning can be had, I am not optimistic that reputational repair can happen.

I fully agree. A third Reconstruction is needed in this country.

[doom2]

> A third Reconstruction is needed in this country.

Arguably the first two didn't go far enough.

[Hikikomori]

Germany didn't really do a lot of that though.