In his second term, the Trump presidency has devolved into a brazen campaign of self-enrichment and power consolidation. The world has watched in dismay as the US leader has exploited his office to amass personal wealth, bully allies, and pursue grandiose territorial ambitions.
Trump’s recent threats to impose tariffs on European countries unless they agree to sell Greenland to the US is the latest example of his transactional and corrupt approach to governance. Driven by a desire to enhance his legacy and soothe his bruised ego over the Nobel Peace Prize snub, the president has been willing to fracture the NATO alliance, instigate a transatlantic trade war, and potentially even trigger a military confrontation with US allies.
The president’s campaign to seize Greenland from Denmark is the endpoint of his self-serving tenure. Trump has exploited the immense power of the American state to strong-arm a property deal, believing it will cement his place in history. “Ownership is very important,” he told the New York Times, adding that it is “psychologically needed for success.”
With little resistance from a compliant Congress and a Supreme Court that granted him “absolute immunity,” Trump has gutted federal agencies, fired ethics watchdogs, and installed loyalists across the government. This has allowed him to profit from the presidency on an unprecedented scale, using the office to generate at least $1.4 billion for himself and his family.
The president’s Greenland gambit is the latest manifestation of his authoritarian tendencies. Trump is transforming the US from a superpower into a protection racket ruled by his whims, where the state exists to serve the ego of its leader. If the world refuses to validate him, he has made clear, it will pay a price.
As Trump grows more vindictive, narcissistic and erratic, the damage he has done to America’s institutions and global standing may prove lasting. The United States is now a greater danger not just to itself, but to the world.
