Matt Johnson
In Donald Trump’s second inaugural address, his familiar zero-sum worldview was on full display: “We will be the envy of every nation,” he declared, “and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer.”
But amid all his talk of “America’s decline,” Trump advanced an ambitious and startling vision of American power. This vision is a strange mix of 19th century expansionism and 21st century futurism. Trump announced that “we will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars.” But he also falsely claimed that “China is operating the Panama Canal” and vowed: “We’re taking it back.” Trump has meanwhile spent the past few months insisting that “control of Greenland is an absolute necessity” and suggesting that Canada should become the 51st state.
It’s unclear whether Trump’s sudden interest in territorial aggrandizement is just bluster or a genuine declaration of intent. But one line from his inaugural address suggested that he’s serious: “The United States will once again consider itself a growing nation, one that increases our wealth, expands our territory, builds our cities, raises our expectations and carries our flag into new and beautiful horizons.” Some of these horizons are closer than others—we shouldn’t expect to see Americans on Mars or an attempt to annex Canada anytime soon. But Trump’s fixation on Greenland and Panama should be taken seriously.
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