Recent global reactions show the world’s diminishing respect for American leadership, particularly following Trump’s 2024 election victory and subsequent actions in 2025.
International polling reveals a dramatic decline in America’s global standing, with only 46% of people across 29 countries believing the US will have a positive influence on world affairs, down from 59% just months earlier[1]. Even in Canada, traditionally a close ally, positive views of the US plummeted from 52% to just 19%[1:1].
Trump’s 58-minute UN speech in September 2025 drew stony faces from world leaders, a stark contrast to previous years when delegates would laugh at his claims[2]. According to body language expert Peter Collett, “People are taking it much more seriously. Whereas formerly it was a source of amusement when he puffed himself up, now almost everything he has to say has to be taken seriously”[2:1].
The administration’s policies have further eroded America’s standing. Massive tariffs imposed on nearly 70 countries have disrupted global trade[3], while Trump’s stance on immigration and inflammatory rhetoric about other nations has alienated allies. At the UN, Brazilian President Lula warned of “attacks on sovereignty, arbitrary sanctions and unilateral interventions” becoming the norm[4].
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez emerged as a leading European voice opposing American policies, defending migration and open societies while warning about “the door to tyranny”[4:1]. Meanwhile, Indonesian President Subianto received applause at the UN for declaring “No one country can bully the whole of the human family”[4:2].
That this reaction didn’t happen during any Bush or Reagan administration is stunning.
US still has an abundance of coal. Together with the weak monarchic but oil rich Saudi Arabia, the oil rich, but coal poor Soviet Union collapsed. Now there are two alternatives, China’s weaker, but socialist coal industry and the much much much stronger solar photovoltaic industry completely dominated by China again.
It’s both of these developments that are causing the situation to be normal instead of the weird events of 1989-1992 and 2008.
Or the Biden administration for that matter.
As some of the replies to your comment show, many only care about aesthetics
As bad those two were, do you really that they even come close to the shitshow that is the Orange Turd???
I think if people weren’t so self-absorbed, this point in time would be different. And it will get worse, not because people are powerless, but because they’re more self-absorbed than ever.
Yeah! How dare people be focused on their own self-interests!
The masses have lost interest because they are, in fact, powerless. The Republican party specifically and career politicians in general have made it perfectly clear that they have been perverting and subverting every aspect of our governmental and legal systems to the point that the only option available to make positive change will be mass demonstration. Mass demonstration is extremely difficult here to begin with and in addition we have been culturally subdivided in such a way to make unrest seem like a localized issue.
How about we stop using blanket statements that imply all Americans are lazy, entitled, and careless like we aren’t on the brink of a civil war.
Man. Just get fucked with this attitude.
Also: https://generalstrikeus.com/ - https://www.fiftyfifty.one/
I’m equally annoyed with the people who comment on posts like this with those stupid pictures of “damn that’s crazy, where are the Epstein files”
Like, everything is a distraction from everything else. Pull your head out of your ass and do something about it currently
Americans are lazy, entitled, and careless- that much is indisputable fact. But it is also true that these characteristics are acculturated and not individual moral failings.
We are long away from a general strike in the US given the attitude of the average american and the complete lack of class consciousness / solidarity. What’s likely is that the Dems will seize some electoral power back, and much of the current political fervor will die- as it usually does. And then the republican party, emboldened by Trump proving that they can just do whatever they want, will come back with a competent figurehead.
The idea of an impending civil war is very optimistic given the fact that there’s been 0 opposition to right wing policy or even the recent city wide military occupations. We have a militarized fascist force quite literally kidnapping people from their jobs and homes while the most heavily armed populace in the world stands back and watches, slacked jawed- and I’m supposed to believe there will be a domestic war? This is a bridge I will not buy.
Conditions will have to get much worse in the united states before people finally take meaningful action (non electoral, potentially violent), the good news is that we have 3 more years for that reality to come to pass and Trumps bad optics (the only thing that actually bothers americans) are bringing the future’s inevitability to today’s doorstep.
As much as that would make sense considering the pace of previous years, I completely disagree with you that there will be another 4 years of relative calm with a Democrat President.
The US economy is heading towards a depression this year and a the only Roosevelt in sight is Zohran Mamdani who has little chance to win. The next Democrat, barring a fascist takeover, will likely be yet another liberal, followed by a Republican. So too little, too late.
Optimist, are you? ♥️
I don’t remember Bush insulting it’s allies like Trump did
Freedom fries? If you’re not with us, you’re against us? Axis of evil? He wasn’t as crude but it was bad.
yup, they only have 1 playbook. it’s sort of an interesting litmus test for when people woke up, what specific event/s was the moment for them
Well, at least Bush and Reagon also not stupider as the most other world leader and compared to Trump they are Einsteins.
And it’s really not the point I was making, either.