The reign of Donald Trump was marked by continuous warfare, a trait shaping both the economic and political climate of his era. A relentless commitment to militarism became the overarching theme of his presidency. It was almost as though the ‘Global War on Terror’ had sown the seeds for the Trump leadership, but these connections were largely overlooked in mainstream dialogue. Alas, it was the worn-out appeal of this costly crusade that sparked an appetite for change amongst ordinary Americans, as the chasm of income disparity deepened and planetary survival concerns took precedence over military spending.
In 2015, when Trump derided the war contributions of Republican Senator John McCain, public surprise was palpable. However, Trump’s criticisms weren’t baseless. While McCain and his peers incessantly cheered for further military endeavors, the bleak effects of rampant warfare on home soil began to gnaw at the less privileged. Successive tours of duty overseas had led not just to physical scars but also emotional ones, and the repercussions were largely felt by local communities.
The economic implications of perpetual war were striking, with countless resources squandered in preparation for and execution of combat. While arrogant politicians rhapsodized about ‘the fallen’, everyday citizens felt the bite from the fallout of excessive war spending. Whereas former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton represented the comfort of the status quo, Trump capitalized on the burgeoning resentment fueled by the adverse repercussions of an ever-war-ready state.
The mainstream media’s portrayal of perpetual conflict had desensitized the public opinion to the severity of its consequences. When Hillary Clinton stood for the 2016 presidential election, her rigid commitment to war proved to be a bane rather than a boon. Her unwavering advocacy for combat appeared to have handed Trump the office. The country’s eroding social safety nets and steadily rising economic insecurity had begun to take their toll.
Candidate Joe Biden made bold claims during his 2020 bid for presidency, predicting an irrevocable shift in the nation’s character should Trump retain the office for another term. However, his assertions conveniently glossed over the fact that two decades of relentless military financing and perpetual warfare had already tarnished the nation’s character extensively. The real image of a country, stumbling under the weight of nearly $8 trillion in war expenses, was negligently bypassed.
Externally, the unyielding drudgery of war ushered in atrocities beyond comprehension. The casualties were not merely contained to the battlefield – a large swath of victims, predominantly children, fell prey to war-induced epidemics. The narrative of these grim realities was largely absent from mainstream American discourse. Similarly, minimal attention was given to the widespread, detrimental impacts of constant warfare on the entire fabric of American society.
Despite the adverse effects on the nation, the machinery of warfare was widely accepted by politicians and journalists alike. Over the years, its influence reshaped the United States, impacting its political landscape significantly. The insensible nature of this war-and-profit terrain became the newest and most profitable avenue for the corporate world.
While congressional Democrats declared Trump as an enemy of democracy, they failed to set a check on American militarism. Inexplicably, though, Trump’s second victory did not just ride on his manipulation of societal prejudices. It owed much to the Democrats’ inability to cater to the needs of the working class, a failure intertwined with their decison to serve the war industry instead.
In the meantime, the U.S. government, with a military budget exceeding those of the next nine countries put together, made an implicit assertion of superior morality. Trump triumphed in establishing himself as the supreme commander of his passionate followers. The sentiments driving Trump’s supporters mirrored the mania of warfare, turning anyone who dared obstruct his path into the enemy.
The existing system of conflict is very conducive to such volatile developments. To dismiss militarism as a booster for authoritarian politics only serves to embolden it. As the nation grapples with the repercussions of constant warmongering, it is high time to stop feigning oblivion and face the reality.