“It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.” - Niccolò Machiavelli, “The Prince”
Allow me to appeal to my fellow American citizens and patriots to go forward with an intrepid nature and a defiant sense of purpose on the international stage, celebrating the unapologetic, America-first bravado of Donald J. Trump. Our Republic now has a leader who values and masters the ancient art of realpolitik with the ferocity of a bald eagle grasping an ever-threatening serpent in its fierce talons.
In foreign policy, domestic affairs, and economic arenas led by international trade, Trump doesn’t just go through the motions as president, compliantly following the globalist script to play the game. No, nay, never. He has upped the ante, bringing to bear the full force of our Republic’s resources and paramount military might. Essentially rewriting the rulebook, he put the world on notice that American interests from this point forward shall be Alpha, Omega and Infinity when it comes to international relations.
His approach, rooted in the cold, hard pragmatism of realpolitik, has reshaped the world stage, ushering in a dogged and determined retrenchment of American foreign policy that is long overdue. The result will be triumph – from cultural ascendancy to economic prosperity, all underwritten by the credible threat of posterior-kicking through dominant and decisive military action.
Realpolitik, that gritty doctrine of power and practicality (think Game of Thrones) traces its roots to the 19th-century German statesman Otto von Bismarck, who unified a fractured Germany through cunning diplomacy and strategic muscle. It’s associated more recently with Dr. Henry Kissinger during the Nixon administration, with visionary strategies such as the strategic triangle and détente. However, its spirit and substance harken back to the Renaissance and the razor-sharp advice and strategic mind of Machiavelli.
Be advised, global community, the gravitas of this about-face will give your aunt testicles, thus making her your uncle. Prepare for bold maneuvers leading to instantaneous results which defer to American interests … this is no postmodern, globalist, utopian, touchy-feely, idealistic circle-jerk. Realpolitik is the art and science of dealing with the world as it is, not as we wish it to be. Just as with Machiavelli’s seminal guide for foreign affairs, the tutor clearly warns his young pupil, the prince, to never let weaker nations make demands on you when you are stronger.
This ethos of excellence is about leveraging strength, seizing opportunities, and outmaneuvering adversaries with ruthless clarity (think Judo mixed with Grappling). From Bismarck’s chessboard to Kissinger’s Cold War gambits, realpolitik has been the playbook for leaders who protect their people and prioritize their nation’s survival and supremacy.
Trump is the modern maestro of this timeless strategy. In foreign policy, Trump didn’t waste a single breath on globalist pipe dreams or one-world group therapy whilst espousing no borders and international citizenship. Instead, he stared down America’s foes with a steely gaze, brokering peace deals that shook the world.
The Abraham Accords? A masterstroke, uniting Israel with Arab nations in a historic alliance, gelding Iran’s malign and dangerous influence without firing a shot. Trump strong-armed North Korea’s Little Rocket Man, a.k.a. Kim Jong Un, into talks, not with weak-kneed, white-privileged appeasement, but with the threat of “fire and fury.” And when ISIS reared its ugly head, Trump unleashed the might of the U.S. military, crushing their caliphate into dust. This wasn’t diplomacy by a United Nations cocktail party – it was a textbook example of realpolitik with an American flag planted firmly in the ground, robust military forces at the ready.
On international trade, Trump’s realpolitik shone brighter than a nuclear detonation at White Sands. He saw the betrayal and destruction America received from global trade agreements – China’s economic stranglehold, jobs bleeding overseas, and our manufacturing heartland rusted and gutted. So, he tore up the playbook, slapping tariffs on China, forcing them to the negotiating table. He renegotiated NAFTA into the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a deal that puts American workers first, seeking to reinvigorate domestic production and “Made in America” truisms.
Egg-headed academics and subjective critics fretted over isolationism and whined about potential “trade wars,” but Trump knew better. In realpolitik, you don’t negotiate from atrophied weakness. You flex your economic muscle, protect your people, and make the world bend to your terms, even if a couple carrier strike groups must be deployed.
The result? Hundreds of billions in trade concessions and a revitalized American economy roaring louder than a Detroit assembly line.
Trump’s genius lies in his complete rejection of the elitist dogma that America should sacrifice its sovereignty for global goodwill and noble benevolence. He received Machiavelli’s message, had Solomonic wisdom, and championed the postmodern movement that power, not platitudes, secures and guarantees a nation’s future. Meanwhile, the Washington Swamp begrudgingly mopes along in a shoe-gazing fog.
Trump brokered deals that put America first – because that’s what a leader does, making no apologies for it. He didn’t bow to international bureaucrats or kowtow to foreign powers. He didn’t fall for the weak magic of the globalist, one-world, no-borders cult. He stood tall, a veritable colossus of conviction, reminding the world that the United States is the greatest force for freedom and prosperity.
Trump’s realpolitik wasn’t perfect, but it was unmistakably American. Yes, Trump ruffled feathers, but that’s what happens when you prioritize your people over globalist groupthink. In a world of wolves, Trump was the roaring lion, bold, fearless and fiercely protective of our shining city on a hill … think of him as our Cincinnatus.
Thus, let us raise our voices in gratitude for a leader who dares to wield realpolitik with unapologetic gusto, proving that America’s strength is its greatest asset. We are in the midst of a nouveau Pax-Americana and even greater triumphs and treasures await our Republic. Machiavelli knew – and Trump has validated the truism – that it’s better to be feared than loved. America, under Trump, will continue to be both!
Troy Carico is a former infantry enlisted soldier (11B) and infantry officer with branch qualifications including counterintelligence (35E) and military intelligence (35D). He served with distinction in the U.S. Army for more than 22 years, and is highly decorated and service connected disabled. He also has prior service as a civilian intelligence officer for the Defense Intelligence Agency Great Skills Program and has served in numerous clandestine assignments throughout the world.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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