BY W LAURENCE DOXSEY
Guest Column
When Donald Trump recently said “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation”, he certainly provided the Democrats with a potent campaign message. Although our multi-billionaire President may have thought he was posturing as a tough guy for the ears of Iranian leaders, he was also demonstrating a complete disconnect from the reality he is creating for this country.
The campaign promise to address and improve pocketbook issues for everyday Americans made up a large part of Trump’s appeal for many voters. At this point, it is safe to say that he has backed away from any semblance of trying to adhere to his promise. We know that regardless of how the stock market may be doing; on a day to day basis of living in the USA, paying more for gas and food plus housing does not help everyday Americans.
This disconnect (and lack of caring) should not be surprising when you consider who makes up our current cadre of leaders. An estimate of the wealth of just 12 members of the administration plus DOGE leaders came to $290 billion as of last December. When Forbes magazine looked at just the cabinet members last August, their total wealth was at $7.5 billion. The Forbes total did not include the President whose estimated wealth has increased an estimated $1.4 to $4 billion just in his second term. Gas, food, and housing costs are chump change for the super rich.
So if the economic well being for everyday Americans is off the table for making America “great,” what is on the table. We have heard a lot from the President about a fabulous ball room, his bathroom remodel, gold “enhancements” to the White House, a proposed giant“Arc de Triomphe”, his gold statue in Florida, painting the reflecting pool, his renaming of the Kennedy center, even his choice of curtains. At the same time, the President’s recently stated goal of blocking Iran from a nuclear weapon is supposed to be the sacrifice of everyday Americans and certainly not at the expense of his vanity projects.
However, Trump’s increase in personal wealth during his term plus vanity projects are not all that is happening in terms of the “greatness” being experienced within the world.
Thanks to the Iran war/excursion, Russia has been handed a lifeline to its cash cow of selling oil. Russia’s monthly oil export revenue has gone from $9.7 billion before the war to $19.7 billion in April of this year. The tax revenue boost the Russian government receives has increased by 70% which greatly helps their domestic budget - sorely needed in light of their own war debacle.
Trump’s Iranian adventure adds to the view in Europe that they cannot rely on the USA as a NATO ally. On top of the Trump tariff roller coaster, threats to seize Greenland, plus disparaging remarks about NATO; the launching of the Iran war without consultation or warning to European allies (followed by admonishing Europe for not jumping in to help when the war has gone badly) may be the last straw. This chill of relations between the US and Europe has set Europe into a go it alone path that could lead to shifting alliances to ensure their safety.
Having allies has enabled the US to have an oversized role in the world. It has arguably been key to our economic strength. But. when you add the chilled relationship with Canada plus the Asian countries now suffering the most from the Iran war misadventure to the mix with Europe, we see a potential shift away from alliances with the US. Turning friends to at best a strained relationship does not lead to the trust that has previously given the US an upper hand in our capabilities to pursue an agenda that empowers this country.
However, the country that will benefit the most from Trump’s ‘go it alone/I don’t give a damn’ approach is China. Everyone knows that Trump loves pageantry and the appearance of being fawned over. Despite a pageant filled welcome, his recent trip to China where he praised the leadership of Xi Jinping notably did not receive a similar type of compliment toward him from Xi. Although a subtle nuance, this is viewed as a show of increasing strength by Xi.
The business-like attitude shown by China during the recent summit comes along as trade deflection is occurring. The US tariff regimen along with the sourness associated with the US Iran debacle is leading the trade relations between China, Europe and Canada to adjust.
We have already seen Canada and China move toward greater trade cooperation. For example, China’s auto producers who are banned from the US market have started providing autos to Canada. In 2025, China’s total trade with Europe ($828 billion) exceeds China’s trade with the US ($559.7 billion). This trade deflection will not help everyday Americans particularly when our President acts whimsically and carelessly causing even more estrangement with trading partners.
What is perhaps most telling in regards to greatness is how a nation understands and acts regarding the future. Trump’s desire to make the US the world’s leading petro-state Is extremely wrong headed (“Drill Baby Drill”). This approach increases the US dependence on a non-renewable polluting resource and fosters an economy readily
SEE premier source for wind, solar, advanced batteries, and electric vehicles. After decades of propaganda and political pressure by fossil fuel companies to disparage renewables, the US has fallen behind. It will not help the US economy to ignore a sector in the global economy that has surpassed $1.5 trillion and is forecast to reach $2 trillion by 2029.
Trump’s “let them eat cake” attitude toward US citizens is exposing that the “greatness” trumpeted by Trump has more to do with Trump’s vanity and legacy. If this means that overall US leadership and greatness in the world is diminished and its citizens standard of living falls, he could care less as long as he can make some more bucks at the same time.
W Laurence Doxsey, Retired, Former Director of Office of Sustainability for City of San Antonio, former Environmental Officer for US Department of Housing and Urban Development, former Sustainability Officer for City of Austin, resides outside Medina.
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