By Kenneth Tiven
His public rapprochement with Russia has effectively abandoned Ukraine, NATO, and the United Nations, sending diplomatic shockwaves across the world. This abrupt shift places India and fellow BRICS nations in a new, uncertain strategic position as global alliances are disrupted.
Not content with merely reshaping international relations, Donald Trump and his ruling partner, Elon Musk, have spent their first four weeks in office dismantling the US federal government. By closing agencies and firing tens of thousands of employees, they have wielded an expansive interpretation of presidential power—one that bypasses Congress entirely. Federal judges have issued restraining orders, but these have been largely ignored, setting the stage for a constitutional showdown in the US Supreme Court.
For now, Trump’s dramatic realignment with Russia is fuelling anxiety—especially among the half of American voters who oppose his totalitarian and isolationist approach. This shift has momentarily overshadowed the gutting of the federal government, highlighting the growing concern that Trump’s advisers share a penchant for autocratic governance rather than democratic principles.
A Master Builder Turned Demolitionist
Trump likes to call himself a real estate “master builder,” but in his first 30 days back in office, he has proven himself to be a master demolitionist—both at home and abroad. His latest move? Allowing Russia to dictate terms for ending its three-year invasion of Ukraine without Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the table. Trump, absent from negotiations in Saudi Arabia, mocked Zelenskyy from afar: “You should’ve ended it in three years. You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.”
This brazen revision of history ignores the fact that Russia’s invasion was stalled by poor military tactics, inadequate equipment, and harsh winter conditions—not Ukrainian diplomacy. Western nations rallied to Ukraine’s defense, providing military and financial aid to counter Russia’s aggression.
Now, Trump’s unilateral stance effectively severs US cooperation with NATO allies supporting Ukraine’s resistance. The message is clear: America, under Trump, is capitulating to Moscow. This shift forces nations worldwide to reconsider their confidence in the US as a reliable ally. For India, a BRICS member with strong ties to the US, this development presents both opportunities and uncertainties.
Europe In Shock, Autocrats Rejoice
Trump’s reversal of longstanding US foreign policy was hinted at but arrived with a “slam-bang, thank-you” approach. At a European security summit, Vice-President JD Vance stunned diplomats by declaring that Trump views European nations as “ungrateful and unprepared” partners. His blunt speech was met with stunned silence. Days later, Trump’s embrace of Russia confirmed the worst fears.
The Cold War Era Is Over For America—Nato Is Now On Its Own
Lucian Truscott IV, a writer from a distinguished US military lineage, expressed his outrage: “With Donald Trump accusing Volodymyr Zelenskyy of starting the war that has destroyed a fifth of his country and killed more than a hundred thousand of his own citizens, we have truly entered the age when black is white, up is down, and two plus two equals a crypto coin with Trump’s face on it.”
Former AP international correspondent Mort Rosenblum was even more direct: “America is far beyond a constitutional crisis. It faces blatant smash-and-grab plunder by grasping narcissists bent on stripping away human decency. Truculent ignorance among those who support them is breathtaking… Trump flouts every check and balance that kept a United States together for most of its 250 years.”
Trump’s latest moves have shattered the perception of the US as a stable democracy. His administration, driven by retribution and unchecked power, has destabilized both domestic and international political order.
Russia’s Strategic Calculations
Russian intelligence has studied Trump for years, recognizing his transactional nature and moral flexibility. Former KGB officer Vladimir Putin—trained in exploiting psychological weaknesses—knows how to manipulate him.
At the Saudi-hosted negotiations, Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, brandished a report claiming US business losses from sanctions on Russia totalled $324 billion. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated: “There was great interest in removing artificial barriers to mutually beneficial economic cooperation.” Translation? Lifting US sanctions is now a key Russian objective—and Trump appears willing to oblige.
While Trump delivers his version of “reality” on Ukraine, his silence on Putin’s aggression is deafening. Russia’s 2014 seizure of Crimea and its continued military expansion into Eastern Ukraine happened under Trump’s first presidency. The full-scale invasion, launched in 2022 after Trump left office, has cost Russia hundreds of thousands of soldiers, decimated Ukrainian infrastructure, and led to Ukrainian military gains deep inside Russia itself.
Zelenskyy and Ukrainian leaders, regardless of political affiliation, are standing firm against Trump’s betrayal. Borys Filatov, Mayor of Dnipro, declared: “We may like Zelenskyy, or we may not…but he is OUR president, as he is. No lying creature, neither in Moscow, nor in Washington, nor anywhere, has the right to open his mouth against him.” European officials are equally alarmed. Lithuania’s former foreign minister warned that Trump’s rhetoric “exactly echoed what Putin wanted”.
America’s MAGA Reality
Trump’s embrace of Russia is happening in tandem with his aggressive dismantling of the US government. His MAGA supporters remain unconcerned, even as he shreds America’s constitutional democracy. They yearn for an America that resembles the 1930s—an era when racism was mainstream and federal oversight was weak. The dramatic shift towards an inclusive, multicultural society has frightened Trump loyalists, who see government agencies as obstacles rather than protectors of civil rights.
Bryan Lanza, a Trump adviser, recently issued a stark warning to German manufacturers: “Trump is a sledgehammer. Either work with him, or you get hit.” His demand? That Germany halt the sale of hydraulic systems to China. European officials were left wondering: Was this tough diplomacy or a declaration of economic warfare?
A Nation Divided By Fear And Disinformation
The internet age has made partisan misinformation more pervasive than ever. Even intelligent, decent people can be swept into the vortex of propaganda. A longtime photojournalist friend, steeped in conservative media, dismissed concerns about Trump’s authoritarian actions: “It’s hard for me to have so-called humanitarian feelings towards people who have been ripping off taxpayers. The damage that Obama and Biden have done to our once-great Republic is incalculable. Trump’s team has its work cut out for them.”
Such sentiments reveal the deep ideological divide in America. As a result, some old friendships, like ours, now require a simple rule for survival: No political discussions.
—The writer has worked in senior positions at The Washington Post, NBC, ABC and CNN and also consults for several Indian channels