Media are claiming that Trump’s “bullying” of other countries, and of Vladimir Zelensky specifically, signals an end to US leadership in the global order.
However, the critics have applied their own definition of bullying, when one could just as easily say that Trump is demanding better terms for the United States or refusing to allow other countries to profit from the US without some form of reciprocity.
One article was titled “Trump’s Bullying is an Act of Desperation,” but his actions are not driven by desperation. Rather, they are a response to nations taking advantage of the U.S. or failing to act in ways that support America First.
So far, most countries have conceded to U.S. demands, such as Panama withdrawing from China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and selling canal operations to an American company, Europe increasing defense spending, and Mexico rounding up cartel members and extraditing them to the U.S.
This is not bullying—it is simply demanding a better deal for America.
A Reuters headline reflects this typical narrative: “Trump’s cuts to US news outlets criticized for ceding ground to China, adversaries.”
While it may be preferable for the U.S. to continue broadcasting Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, the idea that people are now turning to China for their news is absurd. The reasons countries have long distrusted and despised China have not changed.
China is not the world leader and never will be. The world does not trust China—and shouldn’t. Beijing aspires to global hegemony diplomatically, economically, and militarily, seeking to reshape the world order to serve its interests. This includes imposing Chinese-style censorship and surveillance on other nations and their media.
China already demands adherence to the One-China policy, pressuring countries to reject diplomatic ties with Taiwan and refuse visits from the Dalai Lama.
It sanctions and bans foreign media that criticize the Chinese Communist Party and runs extreme trade surpluses with most of its partners, all while pushing for international use of the Chinese yuan—a move no one supports except Russia, which has no choice.
All of these behaviors contradict the values and interests of Europe and the free world, ensuring that China cannot and will not become the world leader. Instead, the U.S. remains the dominant global power, though many countries resent the shift in American policy, as the U.S. is no longer handing out free money and unconditional military protection.
Meanwhile, Europe is not a country and lacks a unified policy agenda or the diplomatic, military, and economic capacity to project power on a global scale. While the U.S. remains the leader, some nations are less happy with the new arrangement because Washington is demanding better trade terms and concessions in exchange for military protection.
Media and European leaders are falsely claiming that Europe is unified and increasing defense spending. However, Europe is a continent, not a country, and any so-called “defense unification” refers only to the EU, excluding non-EU nations such as the U.K., Turkey, and the U.S.—three of the most powerful militaries in NATO. It also does not include Russia, Belarus, or Serbia, all of which are part of Europe but are obviously not part of this initiative.
The EU Readiness 2030 joint defense plan proposes $163 billion in loans under certain restrictions, but it remains unclear whether this is an annual allocation or a one-time provision.
Either way, it is a fraction of the U.S. defense budget, smaller than Russia’s or China’s, and further diluted by the fact that the EU is not a country but a collection of nations with different priorities and capabilities.
Militarily, Europe is far behind the U.S., Russia, and China, with no realistic path to achieving parity. A flood of policy documents has been generated in the past 50 days, but none translate into Europe being prepared to defend Ukraine or take on Russia.
What is actually happening is that some EU member states are discussing increased defense spending and cooperation, but this is far from a truly unified European military force.
The reality is that Europe remains divided both in military capabilities and geopolitical alignment. Claims of European defense unification and independence from U.S. military support are completely erroneous.
One commentator went so far as to say that Trump had “shot himself in the foot” because Europe is close to deploying troops to Ukraine while the U.S. remains uninvolved.
How do they not understand that the U.S. has lost nothing by potentially cutting off aid to Ukraine and withdrawing from funding Europe’s defense?
The U.S. gains nothing from getting into a war with Russia, and the fact that Europe is even considering deploying troops to Ukraine is exactly why Trump is pulling out of this madness.
As for ceding world leadership to China, if China is truly the world leader, then why aren’t they sending troops to Europe to defend Ukraine? Why don’t they take over the funding and military support that the U.S. is no longer providing?
Why doesn’t China lead NATO? If the U.S. is no longer the world leader and China has taken its place, why don’t European countries allow China to open military bases on their soil?
And not just Europe—why don’t Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Australia allow China to open bases to “defend” them from China?
The answer is obvious: China is not the world leader, and no one wants them to be.
In summary: Europe is not a country, and it is not unifying in its defense. Neither the EU nor NATO would stand a chance against Russia without U.S. support.
Meanwhile, the U.S. loses nothing by cutting funding to Ukraine, withdrawing from defending Europe, and avoiding a war with Russia. And as for China—it is not becoming the world leader, and it never will.
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