The Scorched Earth Presidency
Make America Great Again—For Real This Time
For years, Donald Trump’s rallying cry—Make America Great Again—was nothing more than a hollow slogan. Propaganda wielded to justify the erosion of the strongest democracy on earth and the consolidation of power under a man who sees the office of the presidency as a means to serve and enrich himself. But now, only weeks into Trump’s second term, after watching this narcissistic madman take a wrecking ball to the foundations of our government, after witnessing his complete betrayal of our allies and our military, his chilling embrace of Russia and authoritarianism, and his latest spree of destruction, I can finally say: Yes, America will need to be made great again. What we are witnessing is an unprecedented full-blown assault on this country being led by the President of The United States.
By the time Donald Trump is finished with us, this country will be in ruins, a shadow of the nation it once was.
Wrecking Ball to Democracy
Donald Trump has spent his time in office—failing to govern, not leading—but destroying, waging a war against the federal government. The first few weeks into his second term have been a scorched-earth campaign, slashing vital programs and gutting agencies designed to serve the American people.
Everything Trump has touched in his entire life inevitably dies (Trump University, Trump Steaks, Trump Vodka, Trump Airlines, GoTrump.com), and this country will be no different. His first administration was defined by chaos and corruption. His second administration is still defined by chaos and corruption, but add to that an insatiable thirst for revenge. Every day, he and his pal Elon Musk and DOGE, deal a new blow to our institutions, another purge of qualified officials who dare to defy Trump by upholding the rule of law, and another gutting of federal agencies that exist to serve the American people. The rule of law? Shattered. The Constitution? Shredded. The very idea of a peaceful transfer of power? I fear is long dead in this country.
No where has Trump’s thirst for destruction more perfectly been on display than at CPAC, where tech-bro billionaire and Trump advisor Elon Musk (“The Dogefather”) took to the stage with a literal chainsaw—revving it up, laughing, grinning, basking in the applause of a crowd that sees this man’s destruction as a thrill. There is no better symbol of annihilation. Musk called it a celebration of “cost-cutting.” But in reality, it was a grotesque display of the Trump doctrine: dismantle and destroy everything, consequences be damned. DOGE isn’t cutting waste, it’s cutting the lifelines that millions of Americans depend on—disaster relief, food assistance, education funding, infrastructure, healthcare. These cuts hurt the powerless, and they will not stop at those who voted for him. Yet, the crowd cheered, as if setting their own house on fire and watching it burn to the ground was a victory.
While Musk wielded his chainsaw, one of Trump’s most fervent supporters, Steve Bannon, raised his hand in yet another chilling display of a Nazi salute—proving once again that the modern Republican Party is no longer conservative; it is authoritarian. And it’s on display for the entire world to see.
Betrayal of Our Allies
Throughout our history, America’s strength has come not just from our military power or economic dominance, but from our alliances. Alliances that have ensured global stability and ardently defended democracy around the world. When we have faced threats, our allies have always stood beside us. But Donald Trump has turned his back on those allies, leaving them scrambling to prepare for a world where the United States can no longer be trusted and counted on as a reliable ally. Because in Trump’s America, loyalty only flows one way. Trump has abandoned Ukraine to Russia’s unprovoked aggression. He has repeatedly mocked NATO. Refuses to call Putin a dictator, but has no issue referring to President Zelenskyy as one.
For generations, our allies have been assured that when America makes a promise, we keep that promise. But Trump has abandoned them, making clear that his loyalty lies not with democratic nations but with dictators like Vladimir Putin. The message we are sending is clear: America is no longer a reliable leader of the free world.
This is betrayal in its most dangerous form. And history will never forget.
Betrayal of the American People
Trump’s betrayals aren’t just global—they’re personal, happening right here at home. The very people who worked to elect him, are the ones he has abandoned first. His cuts to the federal government aren’t just about ideology; they’re about inflicting pain on and punishing the people he was elected to serve.
Social programs? Slashed. Veterans Affairs? Jobs decimated. Disaster relief? Gutted. Public schools? Remains to be seen. If you families are struggling, if families rely on government assistance to survive, if families need help after a disaster—Trump’s message is clear: You’re on your own.
Trump has undermined American intelligence agencies, and made it clear that his personal admiration for dictators outweighs his duty to the American people, the people he’s elected to serve. The authoritarian undertones of Trump’s movement are no longer subtle. They’re overt, emboldened, and dangerous. Trumpism is not a political movement—it is a cult, and it is tearing our country apart.
Now, We Really Do Need to Make America Great Again
So yes, I can finally get behind the need to Make America Great Again—not because Trump was right, but because by the time Trump is done and finally gone, America will, in fact, need to be made great again. We will need to rebuild all that he has destroyed. We will need to restore the federal government so that it once again serves the people. We will need to rebuild our alliances and reaffirm our commitment to democracy. We will need to rise from the ashes, pick up whatever salvageable pieces are left, and put them back together. For the sake of future generations.
America has always been great—not because of Trump, but in spite of Trump. The greatest nation on Earth does not cower to dictators. It does not turn its back on its allies. It does not fail the American people, especially hardworking American families. And it certainly does not need to be burned down to be made great.
By the time Trump leaves office, we will need to make America great again—not in the way he meant it, but in the way he has made necessary. And that will be his lasting legacy.
Amazing, we all have to fight! Way to go Renee!