If you’re feeling like the world is turning its back on the United States, you’re not wrong. But the real kicker is that it’s not just that people don’t trust the U.S. anymore, they actively distrust it. Folks in Canada, our closest neighbor, for example now hate us and blame the people of this country for allowing it to be turned into a pariah. They also resent that we as a people appear powerless to stop it. America is intentionally destroying its global influence, and it makes no sense to sane people.
That’s a big problem. It’s a problem not just for diplomats in Washington or corporate executives in New York, but for regular Americans trying to put food on the table, save for retirement, and plan for their kids’ futures. Donald Trump’s second term has doubled down on his "America First" agenda. But let’s be clear, "America First" doesn’t mean everyday Americans first. It means corporations, military contractors, and political powerbrokers first. And the consequences are coming home to roost.
Trump’s economic policies like his love of tariffs are already making life harder for American consumers. His renewed trade wars, hitting China, Mexico, and even our allies in Canada and the European Union, have resulted in higher prices on everyday goods. That smartphone upgrade, the new refrigerator, the tires for your car are all getting more expensive as companies pass those tariffs onto consumers.
Inflation keeps hitting harder, and even as wages stagnate, the cost of living continues to climb, squeezing the working and middle classes while Trump’s corporate allies reap the benefits. Despite promises to revive American manufacturing, factories continue to close, and many jobs simply aren’t coming back. Thousands of manufacturing jobs have been lost due to market instability and retaliation from countries Trump has picked fights with.
If you are an American hoping to retire comfortably, Trump’s economic unpredictability has created a nightmare. Markets despise uncertainty, and Trump’s erratic foreign policies have fueled that uncertainty, leading investors to pull out of U.S. markets and hurting the retirement savings of millions. The stock market is in a constant state of volatility, making it nearly impossible to plan for long-term savings. Trump has also flirted with cutting Social Security and Medicare to fund tax cuts for the wealthy, which means seniors and future retirees may have to work longer or live with less.
Trump’s decision to pull the U.S. out of the World Health Organization wasn’t just an international embarrassment, it has real consequences at home. The next time a deadly virus spreads, the U.S. will be left scrambling without international cooperation. Meanwhile, drug prices are soaring as Trump cozies up to Big Pharma while rolling back regulations, making prescription medications even more unaffordable. Rural hospitals, which depend on federal funding and pandemic-related assistance programs, are shutting down at an alarming rate, leaving Americans in small towns and rural areas with even fewer healthcare options.
Trump promised to protect American jobs. The reality tells a different story. Auto workers are striking as Ford and GM face massive labor disputes over stagnant wages. The tech industry is experiencing waves of layoffs as Trump’s economic battles with China hit American companies hard. His administration has also worked aggressively to roll back labor protections, making it easier for corporations to exploit workers and union-bust without consequences. The ultra-rich continue to thrive while the average American is struggling more than ever to keep up.
Another casualty of Trump’s domestic policies is education. His administration has slashed funding for public schools while funneling money into private and religious institutions. This means larger class sizes, fewer resources, and a decline in the quality of education for millions of children. Student debt is soaring as Trump rolls back student loan forgiveness programs, leaving young Americans drowning in debt with little relief. Even opportunities for American students abroad are dwindling as countries reject U.S. applicants due to Trump’s foreign policy blunders. He is shutting down the Department of Education creating a state-to-state patchwork of varying educational opportunities.
The international community isn’t just skeptical of the U.S. but are actively working around us. Trump’s erratic diplomacy has driven Europe, China, and even former allies like Japan and South Korea to cut their own deals without American involvement. The dominance of the U.S. dollar is at risk as more countries begin trading in alternative currencies. This could lead to higher interest rates and more expensive imports for American consumers. Traveling is becoming more difficult as more nations tighten restrictions on American visitors, either due to diplomatic disputes or because they view the U.S. as an unreliable partner. Meanwhile, the U.S. military is overextended. Trump’s isolationist approach is putting more pressure on American troops which leads to longer deployments and increased strain on military families.
If Trump continues this path, the future of America looks increasingly bleak. The wealth gap will continue to widen. This will leave the middle class further behind while billionaires amass even greater fortunes. Healthcare access will shrink as rural hospitals close and drug prices soar. We will see vast medical deserts where only the wealthy can afford decent care. Economic instability will become the norm as markets react to Trump’s erratic policies. This will make it harder for Americans to plan for their financial futures. The U.S. risks experiencing a brain drain. The most talented individuals will seek better opportunities in countries that still prioritize innovation, education, and international cooperation.
Perhaps the most alarming issue is that most Americans don’t seem to understand what is happening or how dangerous it is. The distractions of partisan media, culture wars, and political theater have kept many people from seeing the big picture. Instead of recognizing the systematic decline in economic stability, social programs, and global standing, too many Americans are focused on soundbites and divisive rhetoric that prevent them from grasping the true consequences of these policies.
The failure to see the long-term damage being done means that even when people struggle, they don’t always connect their hardships to the policies causing them. This ignorance isn’t just unfortunate but it’s dangerous. It allows those in power to continue unchecked while the people most affected remain unaware of what’s truly at stake.
Trump’s America First policies aren’t just hurting our reputation abroad. They’re making life harder for the average American. Rising prices, disappearing jobs, a crumbling education system, and a broken healthcare system are not abstract political debates. They are real problems affecting real people. Americans deserve leadership that prioritizes the well-being of its citizens, not just the profits of corporations and the whims of a president who values headlines over results. If we don’t demand better policies that foster cooperation instead of isolation then we risk watching the American Dream slip further and further out of reach.
I’m not optimistic that the American people have the will, the power or even the desire to take our country back. But the “comfort” of the status quo is no longer an option. Too much of what made the U.S. what it was has been destroyed by Trump and Musk over the last couple of months for the U.S. to ever be the same. We can’t put it back together again.
Disclaimer: Jim Powers writes opinion articles. The views expressed in this editorial are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of Polk County Publishing or its affiliates. In the interest of transparency, I am politically Left Libertarian.
