The United States has gone to war with the world. There’s no other way of putting it.
I know columnists are prone to exaggeration, but one week on from Donald Trump’s inauguration, it is clear he is a danger to world peace.
Such has been the blitz of initiatives from the White House that it is difficult to know where to begin.
His predatory approach to Greenland is perhaps a good place to start.
The island is strategically important because of its position in the north Atlantic. But, perhaps more crucially, Trump sees it as a rich source of oil and minerals to help drive the United States’ economy.
He has offered to buy it off the Danes – although self-governing, Greenland is part of Denmark.
He may have his wallet in one hand, but Trump has been wielding a club in the other, monstering the Danish prime minister on the phone, and trolling Denmark on social media and in his public announcements.
You wouldn’t know from his stance that Denmark is a fellow member of Nato and an ally.
The Danes are clear that Greenland is not for sale; but Trump is refusing to take ‘No’ for an answer. Supine Britain is already pulling its punches with him.
The rest of Europe needs to step up and throw its weight behind the Danes. To date, Nato has been reluctant to speak out – even in the face of Trump’s hints that he might be prepared to annex Greenland militarily.
Greenland isn’t the only ‘ally’ under attack from the White House. Mexico, Panama and Canada have each found themselves under the cudgel.
With Canada, Trump’s approach is to subjugate it using economic threats.
Tariffs are his weapon of choice here. And tariffs are how he plans to go to war with other nations, including Ireland, Britain and the European Union.
To his south, Mexico has become the fall guy for the MAGA-right’s racist othering of immigrants.
As well as threatening to destroy its economy with tariffs, Trump has ordered troops to the border as part of his war on migrants.
Meanwhile, he has renewed his threat to take control of the Panama canal – a provocation not just to Panama, but to Russia, China and other world powers who use this vital trade route.
In the Middle East, the genocide of Palestinians happened on Biden’s watch. But Trump’s decision at the weekend to supply Israel once more with 2,000-pound bombs gives further succour to Benjamin Netanyahu and will do nothing to stabilise the region.
In reality, the United States is using Israel as a tool in a proxy war with Iran – yet another front.
And then there is Trump’s troubling relationship with Vladimir Putin – a man he openly admires and seeks to emulate.
The consequences of that flirtation for Ukraine could be catastrophic. Putin has suggested meeting Trump soon to discuss the war.
President Volodymyr Zelensky rightly worries the Russian president is trying to manipulate Trump. And we know from history that Trump is easily flattered and malleable.
Although it did not appear so at the time, one of the saving graces of Trump’s first presidency was the fact that there were ‘adults in the room’ – people in key positions who helped stay his hand. That cannot be said now.
Among the most dangerous of his appointments is Pete Hegseth as US Defence Secretary.
Monumentally unfit for public office, Hegseth’s nomination got over the line only on the casting vote of Vice-President JD Vance.
Hegseth has been accused of sexual assault (which he denies) and excessive drinking. His views about women in combat roles are informed by sexism and misogyny.
All in all, it’s a bleak picture; and I haven’t touched on the malign influence of right-wing billionaires on his administration – and the control they now exert on the media, free speech and on the global economy.
Trump’s primary aim is not to make American great again, but to consolidate power in the hands of oligarchs asset-stripping the planet for their own ends.
On that front, we may feel impotent, but small acts of defiance are important. I disactivated my Twitter/X account the night Trump was elected.
The blitz we have seen this week from the White House – attacks on countries, on immigrants and asylum seekers, on the LGBTQ+ community, and on the courageous bishop who was prepared to stand up to him – are all designed to confound and confuse his opposition and hide his assault on decency and democracy.
Opponents must stay strong, be vocal in their dissent, and be prepared to stand up for all who are under attack.
The mid-terms in 2026 are an opportunity to check this pernicious regime. Those elections have never been more important.