By Suresh Unnithan
In the early days of 2026, a palpable sense of dread hangs over the United States, a nation grappling with the consequences of its leader’s audacious and unpredictable vision. President Donald Trump’s second term, far from being a period of consolidation, has erupted into a maelstrom of controversy, validating the deepest fears of both citizens and international observers. His expansionist agenda, marked by loudmouth declarations about capturing territories like Greenland and a cavalier disregard for international norms, is steering the country toward a perfect storm of global isolation, catastrophic economic fallout, and an inevitable political reckoning. The apprehension is genuine; the fear is that a president on an expansion spree could bring not just chaos, but lasting ruin to a nation that cannot afford such a perilous gamble.
Foreign Policy Gambles: From Cooperation to Confrontation
The cornerstone of the current turmoil is Trump’s radical foreign policy, which has pivoted from the strategic posturing of his first term to a raw, confrontational expansionism. The U.S.-led operation in Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, serves as a stark illustration. Hailed by Trump as a “spectacular assault,” the move was initially met with muted support from a few European nations. However, this fragile consensus shattered almost immediately. His subsequent musings about annexing territories like Greenland and even Canada have transformed quiet concern into open antagonism. What was perceived as a targeted intervention now looks like the opening salvo in a new era of American imperialism, alienating the very allies the U.S. depends upon.
This pattern of aggression extends beyond the Western Hemisphere. Trump’s intention to attack Iran, for instance, has created profound ripples of discontent, not just among powerful European nations, but critically, across the Arabian and African continents. Nations that once relied on American security guarantees are now questioning Washington’s reliability, viewing its actions not as a force for stability but as a disruptive, self-serving hunt for resources. This policy, seemingly driven by a desire to control oil and other valuable assets, threatens to boomerang spectacularly. Instead of securing American dominance, it is forging new alliances of convenience among adversaries and creating a diplomatic vacuum that rivals like China and Russia are all too willing to fill. The result is a “world-minus-one” scenario, where the U.S. finds itself increasingly isolated on the global stage, its influence waning as it is sidelined in critical international forums.
Fiscal Isolation: The Dollar’s Dominance Challenged
Underpinning this diplomatic crisis is a looming economic catastrophe. Trump’s expansionist adventures are not just politically reckless; they are fiscally unsustainable. With the national debt ballooning past a staggering $38 trillion, the United States is navigating treacherous financial waters. The administration’s aggressive policies are accelerating a dangerous trend: the global rejection of the U.S. dollar as the primary exchange currency. The Venezuela intervention, for example, is widely seen as a desperate attempt to protect the petrodollar system, which Maduro had actively challenged by pricing oil in yuan and euros.
This short-sighted gambit, however, may only hasten the dollar’s “fall from grace.” As U.S. sanctions and military interventions become tools of first resort, nations are actively diversifying away from the dollar, eroding its status as the world’s reserve currency. If the petrodollar system unravels, the debt-ridden U.S. could face crippling borrowing costs and runaway inflation, forcing a future of austerity upon its people. Trump’s isolationist policies, including withdrawals from international trade agreements, only exacerbate this vulnerability. By “blanketing the world” with tariffs and alienating economic partners, he is encouraging the formation of alternative trade blocs that exclude the United States. The economic calamity feared by many is not a distant possibility but an emerging reality, where the quest for foreign wealth directly precipitates domestic impoverishment.
Political Reckoning: A Nation in Protest and Trump in Trouble
The most immediate and potent backlash, however, is brewing within America’s own borders. The discontent that was once confined to political commentary has spilled into the streets, with protests elaborating the deep-seated anxiety brewing among the populace. Americans cannot afford to have a head of state whose reckless ambitions threaten to isolate the nation and bring it bad luck. This sentiment is echoing through the halls of Congress, where even within Trump’s own Republican party, there is growing unease. Many fear he is leading the country towards chaos, both economic and political, and that his personal vendettas and expansionist fantasies are eclipsing the nation’s true interests.
This domestic dissent has culminated in a direct constitutional challenge. Following the Venezuela operation, calls for Trump’s impeachment have surged. House Resolution 353 accuses the president of high crimes and misdemeanours for authorizing military action without congressional approval, a flagrant violation of the War Powers Resolution. Democrats have labelled the intervention “illegal,” and even Trump himself has warned his party that losing the 2026 midterms could lead to his third impeachment. This threat looms over his on-going legal battles, including emoluments clause violations and campaign finance issues. The political sword of Damocles hangs by a thread. If Democrats regain control of Congress, impeachment proceedings could escalate, potentially culminating in his removal from office and, as many predict, post-presidency prosecution that could land him in “eternal trouble.”
In conclusion, President Trump’s expansionist spree is not a display of strength but a profound act of national self-harm. His aggressive foreign policy has alienated allies and emboldened adversaries, pushing the United States toward unprecedented isolation. His economic myopia, driven by a hunt for resources, threatens to collapse the very foundation of American financial power. And his authoritarian disregard for law and norms is provoking a powerful domestic backlash that could end his presidency in disgrace. While Trump’s resilience has defied predictions before, the trajectory is clear. The impending turmoil are no longer hypotheticals; they are the defining crises of his second term. The ultimate reckoning—for both the president and the nation he was elected to serve—is no longer a question of if, but when.
