Trump’s America First: The Beginning of the End

By Michelo Maunga

Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47^th President of the United States of America, the greatest country in the world, a few days ago. The land of the free, the land of the American dream. The dream that if you were willing to work hard, you could achieve prosperity. A land where nothing seemed impossible, where the people constantly pushed the bounds of humanity’s perceived limitations. For nearly a century, America has commanded its position as the world’s leading superpower. Rightfully so. The USA is not dependent on any country. On the contrary much of the world is dependent on it. It was the USA that came to the rescue of Europe against the tyranny of Hitler in World War II. After the conflict, it was the USA, through the Marshall plan, that financed the reconstruction of Western Europe. In the same vein, for decades, America has continued to support developing countries such as our own across many spheres.

President Trump, however, seems intent to alter the paradigms of America’s place in global politics. Soon after his inauguration, he wasted no time in signing a raft of executive orders, which, amongst other things, withdrew the US from the World Heath Organization, ceased all bilateral support, including for healthcare, deployed thousands of soldiers to the US/Mexico border, cancelled granting of citizenship status by birth and instituted a hiring freeze across the American Government. Trump’s policy, dubbed America first, stands in stark contrast to the role America has played in the world since World War 1. Therefore, the question remains, could the promulgation of this inward-looking, self-serving dispensation signal the end of the American dynasty. Will it set the stage for the rise of a new superpower, China maybe, India even?

Trump seemingly has an aggrandized view of America, which in a sense is quite American. Everything tends to be exaggerated. America does not function in isolation. America interacts with other Governments. As much as President Trump may not want to admit it, America needs other countries, even those at the bottom of the food chain such as Zambia. Trump for instance, has threatened tariffs on China, Mexico, Canada, the BRICS group of nations and many other countries. America, however, is heavily reliant on imports of goods from China. America simply cannot produce goods as cheaply as China or even Mexico. When Trump initiates a trade war, targeted countries will likely retaliate. This was the case in 2018, when Trump imposed a 25% tariff on a range of goods from China. Rather than fall apart, Trump may be under-estimating  the world’s ability move on without America. The world system will not fall apart. The British saw this after they left the European Union. Other countries will step in and fill the void which will be left. Africans will not die because PEPFAR is at risk of disbandment. We will find ways of providing treatment for our people, with or without the US.

Trump has also withdrawn from the Paris Agreement which commits countries to the cause for limiting global warming. Famously, Mr. Trump described climate change as a hoax in his first term. His administration clearly has no interest in limiting the effects of this scourge. However, in this case as well, the world will move on without America. China, the second largest economy in the world is actively spearheading the adoption of renewable energies. India has similar plans. Germany as well and the European Union. Even countries in the Gulf region, which have oil to thank for their rapid advancement, are pivoting towards clean energy. This is partly why a group from the UAE, International Resource Holding, acquired a majority stake in Mopani Copper Mines. Recently, Minister of Mines and Mineral Development signed an MOU with Saudi Arabia for cooperation in mining. These countries, also realize, therefore, that the future is green.

And for the above reasons, the direction taken by Mr. Trump may be the beginning of the end for America’s dynasty. What President Trump fails to realize is that part of what made his country the greatest in the world, was the assistance his predecessors provided to humanity. It was never just about America. From the regimes of Presidents Lyndon. B. Johnson, John F. Kennedy and countless others, the USA established a social contract with the rest of the world which accorded to it an esteemed position amongst the nations. America was the country all could run to when in trouble.  The personification of selflessness and commitment to the good of the world. True to the status of the greatest country in the world. A country where all, including immigrants, former slaves, could believe in the hope of a better life.

In conclusion, let Mr. Trump not over-estimate his country’s importance. The world is not America and America is not the world. The world will move on. Other countries will step in. Individual countries will rise to the challenge of funding withdrawals. We will not let our people die. We may not have a lot of money but we can afford to provide Anti-Retroviral Therapy for our people. If not, other well wishers will help. Our people will not go hungry. We will find the resources to invest in our economy. Mr. Trump is at liberty to pursue his agenda, which the American electorate found so appealing. We will also continue along our path to improve the lives of our people, a process in which we will draw on our own resources and the support of those countries that continue to put interest of the global community over their own.

The Author is an Economist and member of the Economics Association of Zambia