Trump’s America Isn’t a Clean-Up Job—It’s Controlled Demolition

 Trump’s America Isn’t a Clean-Up Job—It’s Controlled Demolition

When Donald Trump was elected in 2016, many viewed it as a disruption—a break from stale political norms. In truth, it was just the trailer. The 2024 re-election campaign was the feature-length film, and this time, roughly 75 million voters bought tickets for a sequel that promised to “clean up” America.

But what exactly was the mess? And what does cleaning look like when the method is to throw more dirt on the floor?

Trump’s appeal to many is still rooted in the fantasy that his anger is surgically targeted—aimed only at the "corrupt elites" or, more darkly, at immigrants and marginalized groups. But anger doesn’t stay confined for long. And the broom he promised would sweep the nation clean has turned into a wrecking ball with no reverse gear.

To understand how we got here, we also have to confront an uncomfortable truth: Trump didn’t emerge from nowhere. The decay in American politics was already well underway—under leaders we once believed were committed to democratic values. Presidents and congressional majorities from both parties have helped drive this country into crushing debt while quietly serving the interests of corporate donors, defense contractors, and Wall Street firms. They wrapped their decisions in patriotic language while hollowing out the economic stability of the very citizens they were elected to serve.

This long-standing betrayal has bred disillusionment and a deepening mistrust of government—one that Trump skillfully exploits. Voters have been pushed to make decisions not from confidence or hope, but from fatigue and cynicism. When democracy repeatedly fails to deliver fairness, it’s not surprising that some would prefer fury over function.

A friend of mine, who prides himself on being a “free thinker,” recently told me that since America is already corrupt, Trump can’t do much more harm. It’s a form of fatalism posing as logic: the ship is sinking, so why not give the wheel to the guy with a drill?

That line of thinking misses something fundamental: it’s not just corruption we’re dealing with now—it’s the corrosion of the democratic framework itself. Under Trump, the rules are bending faster. Institutions are politicized more openly. And cruelty is becoming a default rather than a bug.

Consider this: under his administration, a student on a legal visa at the University of Minnesota was reportedly harassed for exercising their right to free speech. This isn’t an isolated incident. It’s a symptom of the authoritarian creep. The First Amendment, once the cornerstone of American pride, is now treated as conditional—applied selectively, stripped of meaning.

We used to export our democratic ideals. Now, we’re exporting warnings.

Foreign bureaucrats once came to the United States to study how democracy worked at its best. But they often forget the context: before World War II, America was not a global superpower. It was immigrants—engineers, scientists, laborers—who helped turn this country’s vast resources into national strength. Trump, born into wealth, has benefited from that immigrant-built legacy while simultaneously dismantling its foundations. He sells a version of America that credits its greatness to whiteness and fear, rather than to effort and pluralism.

And millions are buying it.

Meanwhile, those who believe Trump’s policies will protect “the real America” are often the first to feel the consequences. The working-class voters who supported him are most vulnerable to cuts in healthcare, environmental protections, and labor rights. They’re told they’re winning, even as they quietly absorb the losses.

The bitter irony? Trumpism doesn’t eliminate corruption. It supercharges it—while adding a layer of ruthlessness. It is corruption with a clenched jaw and a spotlight. The kind that doesn’t just mismanage government but punishes dissent. This isn’t tough love. It’s sabotage.

Some Trump supporters excuse it all by saying, “Well, the whole world is corrupt.” But that misses the point. America’s power never came just from its economy or military. It came from the belief—however imperfectly lived—that this country could lead with principle. We used to be the difference. Now, we are losing the voice that made that difference possible.

The most dangerous part? Many won’t realize what’s gone until it’s far too quiet.

[Rakesh Sharma] is a political writer and activist focused on democracy, inequality, and systemic reform.

Twitter: @[#truthbetold]