The U.S. presidential returnee either doesn’t understand or doesn’t care about the importance of keeping a polite face on the imperial machine.
Trump delivering his second inaugural address on Monday. (C-Span)
By Caitlin Johnstone
CaitlinJohnstone.com.au
Listen to Tim Foley reading this article.
During his inaugural address, the new president of the United States was refreshingly open about the fact that Washington is the hub of a continuously expanding empire which is ruled by billionaire plutocrats.
As Joe Lauria highlighted for Consortium News, President Donald Trump’s speech included references to the “manifest destiny” of America, saying that under his presidency the U.S. will consider itself a nation that “expands our territory.”
He waxed fondly about the settler-colonialist past which established the country at the expense of the people who were already living there, and vowed to take control of the Panama Canal.
Trump gave this speech to an audience where the wealthiest people on earth sat alongside his own cabinet in the best seats in the house. Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai were seen together in the crowd among the more official members of the incoming administration.
Israeli-American Trump megadonor Miriam Adelson, who according to Trump helped dictate U.S. policy toward Israel during his first term, was seen sitting among former President Joe Biden and his vice president, Kamala Harris, and the Clintons at the inauguration.
There will reportedly be no fewer than 13 billionaires with official roles in the new Trump administration.
The U.S. isn’t suddenly ruled by billionaires now that Trump is president; it was already ruled by billionaires. The U.S. isn’t suddenly an empire bent on global domination now that Trump has been sworn in; that was already the case. But you’re not supposed to just come right out and say that.
Well, Trump comes right out and says it. He says the quiet parts out loud. He’s the only president who’ll openly boast that U.S. troops are in Syria to keep the oil or lament that they failed to take the oil from Venezuela, or just come right out and tell everyone he’s bought and owned by Zionist oligarchs.
He puts much less effort into disguising the true nature of the U.S. empire than other presidents.
That’s the only reason various factions of America’s unofficial permanent government have had objections to Trump’s presidency over the years. It’s not because he presents a threat to the establishment or because he’s trying to bring down the deep state, it’s because he is viewed as a poor custodian of the empire. He either doesn’t understand or doesn’t care about the importance of keeping a polite face on the imperial machine.
If I were forced to say something positive about Trump, that would be it.
The thing some U.S. empire managers dislike about him is the only thing I like about him: that he makes the U.S. empire a less effective evil because of how much less hidden he keeps the inner workings of the machine. The hood stays popped open the entire time, showing the whole world how the imperial sausage gets made.
Not that there haven’t been plenty of mask-off moments during the dementia-muddled chaos of the Biden administration as well. A new article in Time titled “Why Biden’s Ukraine Win Was Zelensky’s Loss” is a good example of this; the report cites a former member of Biden’s National Security Council saying that victory for Ukraine was never part of the Biden administration’s plan.
The opening paragraph reads as follows:
“When Russia invaded Ukraine nearly three years ago, President Joe Biden set three objectives for the U.S. response. Ukraine’s victory was never among them. The phrase the White House used to describe its mission at the time — supporting Ukraine ‘for as long as it takes’ — was intentionally vague. It also raised the question: As long as it takes to do what?”
“Ukraine’s victory was never among them.”
Talk about a mask-off moment. It has long been clear that the U.S. pushed Ukraine into an unwinnable war with the goal of bleeding and preoccupying Moscow, and that it actively sabotaged peace negotiations in the early days of the war in order to pursue these goals.
Now that the job has been done and the demented meat puppet is out of office, we are finally hearing it from Biden’s own handlers in his administration.
And of course there was Gaza, where the world spent 15 months watching history’s first live-streamed genocide right in front of their faces while Western officials made nonstop excuses of less and less believability.
If there’s to be any good to come from that incomprehensibly horrific nightmare, it’s that it has shown everyone the true face of the empire.
The more glimpses people get of the true face of the empire, the less effective the imperial propaganda becomes, because propaganda only works if you believe it.
The primary obstacle to revolutionary change under the Western empire is the fact that its citizenry have been successfully propagandized into accepting the status quo.
The more people open their eyes to the fact that we are ruled by psychopaths who are driving us to our doom on multiple fronts, the closer we get to a collective movement toward a healthy world.
Caitlin Johnstone’s work is entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, following her on Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud, YouTube, or throwing some money into her tip jar on Ko-fi, Patreon or Paypal. If you want to read more you can buy her books. The best way to make sure you see the stuff she publishes is to subscribe to the mailing list at her website or on Substack, which will get you an email notification for everything she publishes. For more info on who she is, where she stands and what she’s trying to do with her platform, click here. All works are co-authored with her American husband Tim Foley.
This article is from CaitlinJohnstone.com.au and re-published with permission.
The views expressed are solely those of the author and may or may not reflect those of Consortium News.
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“Twist My Rubber Arm?!?” I’m down! “These are the sort of things, executed by the duopoly, I would point to,” 1) Optics, “the physics of light & vision,” IMO, the RNC rocked “OPTIC$,” i.e., RNC’s Primary. Debates. Ads. Rallies. Convention + Inauguration; &, @ the End, the RNC “GOT” Money in the bank; VER$US, “Propaganda,” the manipulation of facts, ideas, truth,” willfully, used to chloroform generations of people, “to make ‘em see what the DNC wanted everyone to see; &, miss what they don’t want everyone to notice.” It’s sneaky, shady, scandalous behavior. IMO, the DNC bled “Propaganda.” Consequently, their death knell, “the end, the passing away of anything,” i.e., “Dark Branden-Harris, Bankrupt!” delivered “Biden-Harris-Waltz, et al., in the rear view mirror!!!” Buh-Bye! And, the Universe sings: “Hip! Hip!! Hooray!!!”
TIK TOK. Times Up! It’s “The Big Dance,” w/Trump-Vance, on The Hill. January 20, 2025. Day One, before Antony could Blink, ‘en rolled “The Eagle” aka President Trump w/another kind of S.O.S., w/Sharpie in hand, executed the following declaration, the U.$. Taxpayers are “Off The Hook!!!” …*“No more decadence and charm. No more misplaced affection,” for DJTrump’s E.O., CHANGED John Bolton’s, Mike Pompeo’s & Brian Hook’s, GPS direction. DJTrump cancelled Bolton’s, Pompeo’s, Hook’s 24/7/365 days a year, $ecurity Detail + Blinken’s 51 Intel Bros’ $ecurity Clearances.
The taxpayer’s cost was f.u.b.a.r., “$ecret $ervice $ecurity detail, “over $12 million dollars, for a year’s protection of 2 Trump advisers from potential Iranian threats,” GONE! Formerly employed, “John Bolton & Robert O’Brien, required [24/7/365 days a year] U.S. Secret Service protection [LONG After they Left] their positions. The total $12,280,324.00, for one (1) year, for two (2), “under threat” fm Iran. ENOUGH! An undisclosed, amount, for three, Bolton, Pompeo, Hook has been “Paid In Full,” by the U.S. taxpayers. Like the HSS, Alejandro Mayorkas, that debt is “GONE!”
Once, again, from Center Court, Caitlin Johnstone $cores! Nothin’ but net, ‘s w i s h,’ “He makes the U.S. empire much more transparent and unhidden. He removes its mask and reveals the twisted face beneath it,” i.e., Joey R. Biden & Kamala Harris warning “Oligarchy” “Fascism” “Authoritarianism” Hell On Potus’ Earth, is coming to America.
……“Hey, Joey. Hey, Kamala. the OLDigarchy, is here, for the time being, C.Grassley, G.Napolitano, E.Norton, H.Rogers, E.Markey, R.Blumenthal, D.Durbin, A.King, J.Risch, B.Cardin, J.Carter, A.Eshoo, F.Wilson, M.McConnell, D.Davis, S.Hoyer, M.Waters, J.Clyburn, N.Pelosi, & B.Sanders. “They” are the 188th Congres; AND, the third (3rd) oldest since 1789. No Doubt the most corrupt, rabid, right-wing, rat ba$tard Public $ervants’ $ervice accomplishment is that“there is no place in this world that [the herein named $enators & U$House of Reps] can go and say [he/she] created peace and harmony. Everywhere [he’s/she’s] gone, [he’s/she’s] created havoc. Everywhere, betrayal!!! [He’s/She’s created deception, destruction, death].” And, are complicit in war crimes & crimes against humanity, i.e., GENOCIDE.
….. “I’ve had enough of someone else’s propaganda… I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I’m a human being first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” Malcolm X
“Buckle your seat belt, it’s been a bumpy ride,” from JANUARY 28, 2018, “The Useful Idiocy of Donald Trump-The oligarchic and military elites have a handmaiden in the Oval Office, and he won’t be ousted as long as he serves their interests.” Chris Hedges/Mr. Fish The “Useful Idiocy of Donald Trump,” to the present, JANUARY, 24, 2025’s, “The Useful Billionaires” of Donald Trump.
Onward & Upwards!
*Don’t Fall Apart on Me,” Bob Dylan
There is nothing to disagree with in this article. However, I wonder if Trump will be able to manage the tech bros and billionaires. He does not look particularly well. Could be a real street fight over who gets to keep the oval office.
I actually don’t think we have a President. We certainly didn’t for past 6 months. And I’m starting to think it has been vague over a few decades. It’s very “castle rock studios” and the circus music at Inaguration. We are and have been run by oligarchs for quite some time. It’s just very noticeable now.
Thank you Caitlin!
“If you were to twist my arm and force me to say something positive about Donald Trump, this is the sort of thing I would point to. He makes the U.S. empire much more transparent and unhidden. He removes its mask and reveals the twisted face beneath it.”
*
Definition of Dysfunction (noun) Any action or behavior that has negative consequences for a group or society; an effect of structures that fosters social instability.
The analogy of the dysfunctional family feels like an excellent fit, where – when the dysfunction becomes untenable -, a calamitous rendezvous with previously unexpressed family truths becomes unavoidable.
One might predict a blaringly loud international collision of the sociological variety with humankind’s previously suppressed “skeletons in the closet” in the very near future, which, if humanity is fortunate enough, will go a very long way toward – finally, once and for all time – ending the major dysfunctions on planet Earth.
Peace.
“We” are not ruled by psychopaths.
Psychopaths can’t rule even themselves.
The term you should use is Sociopath.
Sociopaths lack empathy and some are highly functional.
See : THE SOCIOPATH NEXT DOOR by Martha Stout
American expansionism is a bit like a sun going supernova in it’s final stages…
It is no surprise McKinley and TR are mentioned since hust as our genocide was ending we were building the Canal and pivoting on to Hawaii and the Philippines and Guam. Guam didn’t even know they were at war and thought our ships firing on them were paying them a salute. But Cuba and the Philippines were on thee verge of freedom and we saved them for our new empire instead.
We were on our first gilded age of oligarchs then but some even signed on with the Anti-Imperialist Party.
Our demotion derby wars are just real estate investment for hedge funds and agri-business using Russian bombs. Kind of like WWII as the major 2 front war of the 20th century we appear to be trying all over again..
We may think it is our empire but it is all of the western empires conspiring under our NATO command that Trump is inadvertently exposing and we are victimizing ourselves and our own planet for short term profits.
The spectacle in Washington sadly reminds me of these words by Theodor Arno, in his “Dialectic of Enlightenment’ (1947) “As naturally as the ruled always took the morality imposed upon them more seriously than did the rulers themselves, the deceived masses are today captivated by the myth of success even more than the successful are. Immovably, they insist on the very ideology which enslaves them. The misplaced love of the common people for the wrong which is done to them is a greater force than the cunning of the authorities.”
BRILLIANT! Or as Emma Goldman said, “People love their chains.”
The only thing I’d disagree with in this great article is the following:
“The more glimpses people get of the true face of the empire, the less effective the imperial propaganda becomes, because propaganda only works if you believe it.”
Sadly, based on the American experience, propaganda works whether or not the people believe it … mere repetition and information saturation works wonders. For example, this is how, with absolutely no evidence of wrongdoing, people’s perceptions of China shifted from almost entirely positive in 2008 (Beijing Olympics) to enemy nation (“adversary” that is sending killer spy drones to destroy our “way of life”) even though there’s absolutely no trust in the MSM that has been instrumental in people changing their views.
In other words, most people believe exactly what they are told even when they do not believe/trust the teller …
Thank you
I think what will change is the litany of disasters we can expect in a country that — true to European tradition — has no notion of land and forest management, a crumbling infrastructure, and is shipping its nonexistent wealth overseas to fascists. The more Americans are left exposed to natural and manmade disasters with little or no help from the rulers in DC, the more angry and disgusted they will become. It will be interesting if simultaneously horrifying.
“He puts much less effort into disguising the true nature of the U.S. empire than other presidents.
That’s the only reason various factions of America’s unofficial permanent government have had objections to Trump’s presidency over the years.”
No.
They did fear him in ’15 and ’16 to a certain degree bc he used detente rhetoric pertaining to Russia when the Washington militarist ruling class was dead set on vilifying Putin to a massive degree. No insanely dangerous proxy war against Russia on its border happened on Trump’s watch.
Some of the big reasons the Zionist mainstream media and establishment ruling class are taking a softer tone against Trump this time around are bc various factions of that elite believe one of three things or a combo of the three: 1.) Trump’s admin will arm to the teeth and countenance an Israeli attack on the West Bank, 2.) Trump’s regime will attack Iran, and 3.) Trump’s admin will wage a vicious proxy war against China in the South China Sea.
Indeed. It has always been: Better the enemy that you can see than the one hidden behind a false, virtuous face. This is why for a long time the Democratic Party has been “the place where liberal dreams go to die.” Remember Obama with Social Security. He is also the one that set the Ukrainian debacle into motion. Not to mention, killing people without due process. But, he’s one of the “good guys.” Yeah, right. With Trump, you see who and what he is. Take it or leave it.
But Trump apparently has an agenda that Mercouris argues could be as consequential as the transformations of Reagan or even FDR. And, a majority of the American people have now freely voted for it. There are some things in that list that I would like to see happen and much that I don’t. But, here we are.
He also apparently wants to remove the top secret clearance from the 51 intelligence officer assholes that Blinken rounded up to sign the “Hunter laptop is Russian influence” letter to defer investigation into Biden before the election. Apparently, this is how democracy works in the US. At least under Biden. Also, he wants to declassify the JFK papers. Again, we shall see but that would be quite remarkable.
“ And, a majority of the American people have now freely voted for it.”
If by this you mean that a majority didn’t vote and/or vote against it, while at the same time being mostly misinformed, then I can agree with you. I propose, however, that this was perhaps the most ill-informed election in American history; plagued with polarized judgement, vast sums of money spent to mis-dis-inform and create a generalized climate of fear and uncertainty. Democracy as a ‘polling’ method measures just as much confusion as it does responsible choices, and becomes a device for its own destruction in times of great personal, national and geopolitical stress. Justifying anything, these days, by claiming that a majority ‘freely voted for it’ misses too many points to be credible.
Love that phrase, been thinking similar for considerable time now „ The more people open their eyes to the fact that we are ruled by psychopaths who are driving us to our doom on multiple fronts“.
I believe the state of the AnglosaxonUS empire is comparable to a mental asylum for the criminally insane in which the inmates have taken over the running of the deadly circus. Nobody seems to be willing or able to stop them yet?! Is it because the silent majority has been brainwashed and dumbed down to accept and run with the abnormal as normal?!
Trump just sank his presidency with his mention of his “exceptionalist” megalomania
I doubt he is going to last full term. There are going to be some very big dog fights on the home front.
It looks to me as though Trump is “going for the quick kill” to dictatorial domination; he is old and utterly self-possessed, it very well may be that he sees no ‘long run’ at all. Adding to the danger for the Great Rest of Us is that there has gathered an array of neo-human megalomaniacs with great wealth ready to push through the cracks that a head-long Trump assault might make. As you point out, dog fights galore…and maybe much worse.
SOS…tsunami Trump on its way.
Thanks for your efforts Caitlin
“…If you were to twist my arm and force me to say something positive about Donald Trump, this is the sort of thing I would point to. He makes the U.S. empire much more transparent and unhidden. He removes its mask and reveals the twisted face beneath it…”
Exactly! I could not agree more. I posted this comment earlier today on Ben Norton’s website:
“As disgusting and pathetic as this all is, the DT regime is more obvious and a more honest representation of the US ruling class and US govt. It is ruled by the oligarchy and the “elected” officials are merely bought-and-paid-for puppets. When you have the world’s richest and most powerful oligarch (reportedly worth half a TRILLION $$) in the WH with so much power, it should be more than obvious.
As Jimmy Carter said after the Citizen United decision by SCOTUS: “The US is an oligarchy with unlimited political bribery” Elections Inc. are merely PR stunts to “legitimize” tyranny.
The DT, like the previous geriatric freak, is serially mendacious, corrupt, elitist and genocidal. The only difference is that DT is louder, and an even better example of the Ugly American (which was inherited from our cousins cross the pond): loud, obnoxious, ignorant, ethnocentric, bigoted, elitist, a fkn liar and all around asshole.
The DT is an almost perfect example of a freakish puppet emperor in the slowly decaying Empire, and a perfect example of the Ugly American.
See, I’m not always pessimistic.”
LOL to your last bit. But I am sorry that I disagree with you overall. Trump, like Obama was appeals to a certain part of society (me included if I was a Yank American), but he is just another cheek of the same *rse… spewing out rubbish like our politicians do in the UK – FROM different sides of the make believe political spectrum; hey if I was a Yank … I would be wearing a red hat with MAGA and celebrating; but WE ARE BEING _PLAYED as the end goal is set….
hxxps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-O2DgubTC0
40 elections in a year ????? – all went left to right, or a few right to left… the World is a stage; but at least Trump makes me smile… especially after what you ot have been through the last 4 years.
The next phase of the agenda is coming in… so in my mind the UN and WEF are
Did you bother to read the article? Obviously not. Why bother to disagree when you do not address the facts? You can believe in fairy tales and hope all you want, Just as bad as the Genocide Joe crowd.