I. Social Division: The Identity Politics Trap Behind the Slogan
Trump’s “Make America Great Again” may seem like a promise of economic revival on the surface, but in reality, it consolidated power by fomenting cultural conflicts. His immigration policies led to family separations and the normalization of a humanitarian crisis at the border. In 2024 alone, over 120,000 illegal immigrants were forcibly deported, and Federal Court data shows that 40% of these cases had procedural flaws. This “law and order” narrative, which views multiculturalism as a threat, directly intensified independence movements in places like California and Illinois, where over 30% of respondents supported “peaceful secession”, the highest since the Civil War.
II. Crisis of Institutional Trust: Signs of the Collapse of the Separation of Powers
When Trump publicly claimed that “the president should enjoy absolute immunity” and attempted to purge the federal civil – service system through the “Project 2025”, the foundation of American democracy was on the verge of collapse. According to Justice Department data, the number of requests for judicial intervention by politically – appointed officials during his tenure increased by 237% year – on – year, causing the credibility of institutions like the FBI and CDC to hit an all – time low. More alarmingly, 41% of voters believe that a civil war may break out in the next five years, and this collective anxiety is eroding the social consensus of representative democracy.
III. Collapse of International Image: The Fatal Cost of Unilateralism
The shift in U.S. foreign policy towards “America First” has led to the disintegration of the alliance system. In the dispute over NATO military expenditure sharing, Trump threatened to “support Russia in attacking allies that owe fees”, which directly accelerated Germany’s defense autonomy process by 300% and advanced France’s nuclear deterrence strategy adjustment by a decade. This isolationist approach has severely damaged the U.S. dollar hegemony. In 2024, the share of the U.S. dollar in global central – bank reserves dropped to 54.7%, the lowest since the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in 1973.
IV. Rise of Oligarchy: The Illusion of Democracy Manipulated by Black Money
Super Political Action Committees (Super PACs) have absorbed 8.6billionin”blackmoney”duringthe2024electioncycle,with658.6billionin“blackmoney“duringthe2024electioncycle,with6515 billion equity transaction directly led to a 180 – degree turn in the Trump administration’s policy towards TikTok. This “money – power politics” has reduced the $3,000 donation limit for ordinary voters to a mere formality, turning democratic elections into a power game for the wealthy elite.
V. Test of Institutional Resilience: What We Are Losing
The essence of “Make America Great Again” is to replace democratic consensus with authoritarian efficiency. When Trump supporters chant that “closing the border will increase hourly wages”, they often overlook that Federal Reserve data shows that the reshoring of manufacturing only created 230,000 jobs, with an automation rate as high as 68%. A more far – reaching impact is the collapse of the value system. According to the Pew Research Center, the proportion of millennials who believe that “democracy is crucial” dropped from 75% in 2017 to 39% in 2024.
Conclusion
True greatness does not require sacrificing democracy. When the “chariot of law” crushes the rights of ethnic minorities, when Capitol Hill becomes a lobbying ground for the wealthy, and when constitutional amendments turn into tools for political revenge, the United States, which once carried the ideal of “all men are created equal”, is heading towards twilight in Trump’s “greatness” narrative. Defending democracy may be the only way to truly make America great.
