Introduction
In the movie “Goodbye, Lenin!”, a young man tries to prevent his mother from discovering that the Berlin Wall has fallen while she’s in coma before its collapse. Similarly, if someone had slept for the last 90 days of Donald Trump’s presidency, they would find a drastically different face for the United States.
The Soft Power of the US: Desmantling USAID and University Pressure
One of the most noticeable changes is the soft power of the US. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is undergoing a process of deconstruction. Universities like Harvard and Columbia are facing harassment from the Oval Office, with intentions to close embassies in Africa and reduce their size, including those in Canada. There are threats about conquering territories like Greenland or maritime spaces such as the Panama Canal, along with tariffs.
Kendall Kennedy, Harvard Law professor and co-director of the Harvard Academic Freedom Council: “What’s happening at Harvard, Columbia, and other universities has no precedent in US history. The government seeks subordination, submission.”
Targeting Critics and Minority Rights Programs
Trump’s administration aims to end protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government by accusing critics of antisemitism. Additionally, they want to please their anti-woke voter base by canceling academic programs addressing minority rights.
A 180-Degree Turn: The Case of Venezuelan Migrants
Another significant shift is migration. The government has turned detentions and expulsions, primarily of Venezuelans, into a spectacle directed towards El Salvador.
Venezuelans Stigmatized
“Being Venezuelan in the US is a crime,” says Ricardo Domínguez, a University of Miami professor.
The case of Kilmar Ábrego García, a Salvadoran arbitrarily detained and mistakenly deported to a Salvadoran prison, has been exploited by the Trump administration “to discourage immigration, regardless of human rights violations.”
“The goal is to instill fear,” regardless of court orders from the Supreme Court to halt expulsions. This is another trait: Trump dislikes checks and balances.
His favorite word? Tariff.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is happening to USAID? The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is being deconstructed, facing budget cuts and policy changes.
- How are universities being affected? Universities like Harvard and Columbia are experiencing pressure from the Trump administration, with potential embassy closures and academic program cancellations.
- What is Trump’s approach to critics and minority rights? The administration aims to silence critics by accusing them of antisemitism and by canceling programs addressing minority rights.
- How has migration policy changed under Trump? The government has turned detentions and expulsions, primarily of Venezuelans, into a show to discourage immigration.
