A Presidency in Decline: The Unravelling of Donald Trump
Political power is steadily draining from Donald Trump as his health and poll ratings face a significant slump. The central question now preoccupying analysts is what an insecure, ageing leader, who retains control of nuclear weapons, might do next as his grip weakens.
The Mounting Evidence of a Faltering Administration
The foundations of Trump's second term are showing severe cracks. The US economy is in a pronounced slump, with prices continuing to rise for ordinary Americans. His political opponents are surging in popularity, while his core base appears largely indifferent to his patchy and inconsequential foreign policy wins in conflicts such as Ukraine and Gaza.
Compounding his troubles, his association with the late Jeffrey Epstein continues to cast a long shadow. The culmination of these issues has resulted in Trump securing a dubious honour: he is now the most unpopular US president of modern times.
There is a dangerous paradox in this decline. When a bully begins to lose control, their instinct is often to lash out. The violent events at the US Capitol serve as a stark reminder of how such anger can manifest.
The Personal and Political Factors at Play
Multiple factors are contributing to this loss of authority. Firstly, his straightforward unpopularity stems from a perceived failure to deliver on key promises. He vowed to lower the cost of living, yet a year into his term, inflation persists. His pledges on border control have been marred by reports of his officials detaining US citizens, including children and cancer patients.
Globally, the largest economy is stagnating, burdened by worldwide tariff wars and teetering under the weight of an enormous AI bubble his administration has actively inflated.
Secondly, his advanced age is becoming increasingly difficult to conceal. At 79 years old, he is overweight, uses makeup to cover bruising, shows signs of fluid retention in his ankles, and has been seen appearing to fall asleep at public events. His once grand, sweeping speeches have diminished into short, erratic outbursts.
An analysis by the New York Times reveals his public appearances have decreased by 40% compared to his first term. His typical daily schedule now starts well after noon, despite having a compliant government machine at his disposal, suggesting a leader with diminishing energy.
The Looming Global Threat of Nuclear Proliferation
While the domestic political risks are significant, the situation enters truly uncharted territory for the entire world when combined with Trump's directives to resume the testing of nuclear weapons. Dismissals that these will be mere 'safety tests' or conducted underground are dangerously naive.
If the United States, which has not detonated a nuclear device since 1992, chooses to do so again, it provides a perfect excuse for rivals like Russia and China to escalate their own programmes. China is eager to test its hypersonic nuclear weapons, and Russia has prototypes it wishes to trial.
This move could spark a new arms race that the US is already losing, forcing nations like the UK and France to spend trillions on upgrading their own nuclear arsenals. This precarious shift moves the entire global population closer to a precipice, potentially degrading American power and emboldening Eastern demagogues.
Trump's political collapse could be a relief or the start of a catastrophic chain of events. The world now watches nervously, hoping that observers will look beyond his words and assess the real, growing dangers of his weakening command.
