Trump’s decline into open corruption signals the end of America’s authority

While this year has seen the collapse of the United States as a global leader, its successors may emerge next year, as Alan Austin reports.

WHEN HISTORIANS look back to 2025, it will likely be seen as the year that America’s national leaders finally abandoned their pretense of statesmanship. surrender to the president Donald Trump‘s ambition for personal enrichment, deliberate violence and undisguised malevolence were on display throughout the year.

Critical foreign policy decision

The date engraved in the memories of all amateur and professional foreign policy students is Thursday, November 20, 2025. That’s when we saw Trump’s long-awaited move. peace plan For the developing country Ukraine, which Russian forces have been brutalizing since February 2022.

The document was a complete surrender to the President of all Russia. Vladimir PutinRussia’s demands, including that Russia retain all the territory it has stolen since 2022, as well as extra territory in Donetsk Oblast, which Ukraine still controls.

Concessions were offered to the United States because of Donald Trump’s heroic role in formulating the “deal,” but no security guarantees were offered that were applicable to Ukraine or anyone else.

The reason this document matters is that no one in the Pentagon, Congress, or the Republican establishment opposes the cowardly sell-out of a long-term ally and the NATO alliance.
The powers that once saw the sacred role of shaping the destiny of the Free World, of which the United States was the military and ideological leader, had all bowed to the greedy tin tyrants.

The period when the United States was the leader of the free world under presidents Reagan’s, Clinton, George W.H. Bush And ObamaIt’s gone forever now.

A comprehensive abandonment of values

The collapse of the American experiment can be seen in failures in every aspect of life: economically, spiritually, and morally, as well as militarily and strategically.

since trump announced Following last February’s devastating tariffs, the U.S. economy deteriorated in nearly every measurable outcome. The results are now so bad that Trump banned We publish the latest figures on employment, inflation and economic growth.

The USA’s penny debt still continues It was published Even though it’s not true, on a daily basis. This puts the debt at more than US$38.4 trillion (AU$57.7 trillion) last week, bringing the total federal debt Trump has added in two terms to over ten trillion dollars, leaving all US taxpayers doomed to pay excessive interest for decades to come.

Tawdry corruption is now normal

Last May, Qatar, an autocracy that includes both the Taliban and Hamas, talented Donald Trump is a luxury jet plane. This was of course clearly stated breach of the USA Constitution‘s salary clause and should have been rejected immediately. Trump received the gift and has since allowed Qatar to impose the lowest tariffs. planning Building a Trump tourism complex in Qatar.

Such events are no longer a surprise, but an established pattern. Foreign governments and multinational corporations flock to the White House and shower the President with personal gifts; The President then changes government policy in their favor and negotiates lucrative contracts for his family wherever possible.

After Trump’s imposition 46 percent tariff In April, he negotiated approval in Vietnam to develop a luxury golf course in Vietnam and a skyscraper in Ho Chi Minh City. Tariffs at that time reduced up to 20 percent.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Visited Trump at the White House Proposal to Melania Trump US$40 million (AU$60 million) for a documentary about him is the highest licensing fee ever. Apple CEO Tim Cook He called on Trump in August and I gave it to him a bar of solid gold. Both companies then negotiated favorable tariff agreements.

At the beginning of this month, FIFA suddenly rewarded Observers believe awarding Trump a previously non-existent peace prize is aimed at foiling any improper investigations into FIFA’s dodgy US operations ahead of next year’s World Cup.

The awarding of this award in the week when human rights and peace activists condemned the Trump administration for deadly airstrikes in the Caribbean, support for Israel’s atrocities in Gaza and violent internal migration policies underscores FIFA’s hypocrisy.

Trump now routinely hands out criminals amnestyApparently through negotiations with his sons, who divided the punishments that should have been imposed on the victims of the crimes between the criminal and the Trump family. One to guess It argues that the Trumps have now deprived victims of US$1.3 billion (AU$1.9 billion) in compensation awarded by the courts.

Trump on October 21 requested The Justice Department paid him US$230 million (AU$345.7 million) in compensation for investigations he faced during his first term in office and during his first term in office. Biden Management. These investigations found him guilty of 34 charges related to business fraud and election manipulation, but no penalties were imposed.

Protection agencies AWOL

Inspectors general who would once prevent such fraud are now was firedSo there is no way to know whether Trump received this payment.

Trump has frequently claimed that he refused to accept a $400,000 annual presidential salary, but analysis of his tax returns shows that when eventually presented, Trump did not accept it. given salary he receives every year.

The Supreme Court bowed to Donald Trump, but that’s not yet the case in many lower courts.

The military agreed to commit war crimes at the insistence of Trump’s corrupt new Secretary of War. Pete Hegseth.

Congress has shown no desire to fulfill its role as a co-equal branch of government, but it now acquiesces to nearly every Trump whim. So America’s surrender is now almost complete.

Hope in rising leadership

The saddest part of this collapse is that it was not achieved by an inspiring, ambitious man. Trump no Napoleon. The vision of a brighter future goes no further than Diet Coke on tap, gold-plated baths and showers nozzles for larger sizes.

Among elected leaders with integrity now emerging Canada, Mexican, Finland And Australia.

One of the biggest intrigues in 2026 will be to see who will emerge as the next global leader.