Aggressive, Bullying, Hegemonic: the Resurgence of the Ugly American

For decades, each U.S. leader has strived to clear the America of its image as a coercive, imperialistic nation. Yet with his bombastic, repeatedly aggressive actions toward other countries, Donald Trump has quickly revived that idea. Under Trump, the unpleasant American image is back.

Assertive Use of Influence

Trump has done this by wielding American influence in assertive and arrogant ways – by attacking other countries’ policies and then promising to punish them if they fail to submit to his demands. His actions represent exactly what worldwide legal standards states national leaders ought to avoid. On multiple occasions inserted himself into sovereign states' business, intimidating their officials, criticizing their strategies and ignoring their sovereignty. Regularly, he regards foreign nations as subordinates of the United States (and of his self-image).

Origins of the "Ugly American"

The expression “the Ugly American” was made famous by a book from 1958 with that title; it depicted the tactlessness and incompetence of American envoys who typically didn’t speak the tongue where they were assigned and rarely engaged with the residents there. With time, that term was more commonly applied to describe unaware and overbearing American travelers and unaware and overbearing U.S. strategies toward international partners.

Global Interventions

His conduct reflects like an unpleasant image in multiple situations. He involved himself in Brazil’s internal affairs by all but ordering it to abandon the criminal charges of its rightwing ex-leader (and Trump buddy) Jair Bolsonaro for scheming to attempt a government overthrow to return to power. After Brazil refused the charges – he was declared culpable and given a term to over two decades in incarceration – he implemented a half-rate duty on Brazilian goods.

In the past few weeks, he has acted as the Ugly, even Irrational, U.S. representative toward Canada when he grew outraged after watching a broadcast advertisement, funded by the region of Ontario, that contained parts of a the ex-leader speech opposing tariffs. To counter, he enacted an extra ten percent duty on Canadian goods. That move added to the frustration of Canadians who were already furious about Trump’s absurd idea to turn Canada into the additional U.S. state.

He has additionally sought to bully the South American nation. He declared the United States would end support to that country after its leader, Gustavo Petro, complained that the American forces had targeted a Colombian fishing boat and caused a fisherman's death as part of his initiative of attacking boats accused of moving illegal substances. Using harsh, unprofessional discourse, Trump called the head of state an “narcotics chief”.

Military Intimidation

Concurrently come the administration's sporadic intimidations to conduct defense operations against Venezuela. They’re a reminder of America's openly hegemonic interferences in, including, the Southeast Asian nation, the Caribbean island and the Persian Gulf country, with the mid-century takeover deposing a progressive prime minster. The nation's leader, the president, is unethical, repressive and dictatorial, and stole an election, but military intervention would be a regression to the worst days of Ugly Americanism.

EU Issues

Trump has also intervened in the European bloc's business. At a time when social media is overflowing with so many untruths that it poses challenges for representative systems to operate, even persist, the European Union has understandably required social media platforms to remove lies and other disinformation. However he has condemned the European digital regulations, claiming that it unfairly targets American technology firms. His administration has frustrated the European Union by warning to enact additional duties and limit the travel documents of some EU officials.

The unpleasant U.S. approaches have done serious injury to the U.S. perception abroad

Diplomatic Intervention

He has wrongly intervened in Argentinian governmental matters by stating he would grant a forty billion dollar rescue package, but could withdraw that money if the faction of Argentina’s rightwing president, the Argentine president, failed to secure victory parliamentary votes. “In case of his loss, we are will not be supportive with Argentina,” he stated. The faction won, following meddling Trump taking some credit, declaring: “He had considerable support from the United States.”

The second-in-command, the vice-president, intervened in the political affairs of Germany by condemning conventional factions for establishing a barrier against letting extreme conservative groups such as the Alternative for Germany into a administrative partnership. Through an oration last month to the nation's legislative body, he involved himself in the nation's governmental matters in an remarkable way, urging Israel’s president to absolve the prime minister, the Israeli leader, on the legal accusations he’s facing.

United Nations Presentation

In Trump’s hour-long rant to the United Nations gathering in the ninth month, he sought to play Boss of the World. He directed the 193 countries in the U.N. to abandon their environmental regulations, saying apprehensions about climate change are {“the greatest con job

Laura Beard
Laura Beard

Tech journalist and startup enthusiast covering London's innovation ecosystem.