In 1987, American historian Paul Kennedy wrote an influential book, “The Rise and Decline of Great Powers.” Its thesis was that powerful nations falter once they devote too much energy and resources to military interventions at the expense of their own economy.
President Trump is leading the U.S. into this fatal trap that ended the supremacy of so many great powers. his push to change the name of the Defense Department to the Department of War reflects his aggressive intentions.
He has already bombed seven nations — Yemen, Syria, Venezuela, Somalia, Iran, Iraq and Nigeria. He has threatened Cuba and Greenland. The U.S. spends 50 percent of the nation’s discretionary annual budget on the Pentagon while urgent domestic needs like health care go unmet.
Trump is the king of coups at home and abroad. After his failed coup here on Jan. 6, 2021, the wannabe dic-tator finally succeeded in the violent overthrow of fellow dictator Nicholas Maduro. Venezuelans, meet the new boss, same as the new boss.
King Louis XIV of France stated “L’Etat est Moi,” loosely translated as “I am the state.” This phrase is the essence of Trump’s narcissistic presidency. There’s nothing more appetizing for the unsatiable ego of our own homegrown tinpot dictator than some old-fashioned 19th century Yankee imperialism. Trump stated he will “run” Venezuela after already running his own country into the ground. He also declared that he was “in control” of the oil there and that he was “acting president” of the Latin American nation.
These are delusions of grandeur.
Americans are closely divided on Trump’s Venezuela raid, according to last week’s CBS News poll. But many people have doubts about his aggression and his motives. The many who believe Trump attacked for oil overwhelmingly oppose the attack. Trump doubles down on crude while the rest of the world looks to the future to the green energy to fight the ravages of climate change.
Next on Trump’s imperial agenda is Cuba. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has claimed it has “incompetent and senile” leaders. It is a pretty rich charge, as his boss falls asleep at Cabinet meetings and can’t remember his promise to give taxpayers $2,000 tariff rebate checks.
Before Trump can even digest the effect of his actions in the tropical South, he wants to feast on the great frozen North. He has asked Pentagon officials to plan an invasion of Greenland, a territory of our NATO ally Denmark. In response, European leaders have announced their intention to resist the attack.
Russian President Vladimir Putin must love the discord that his best buddy has sown in the NATO alliance. Trump’s hostile intentions toward Greenland distract our allies from resisting the Russian takeover of Ukraine. Trump is doing Putin’s dirty work once again.
What accounts for the surge in saber rattling from America’s own homegrown warlord? Distraction, thy name is Trump.
Written by Brad Bannon for The Hill ~ January 14, 2026