Source: Common Dreams
by Robert Francis
“U.S. President Donald Trump’s early actions in his second term under the ‘Make America Great Again,’ or MAGA, banner prioritized populist rhetoric over national interests. Withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement and the World Health Organization further isolated the United States and eroded its global leadership. Domestically, policies like federal hiring freezes, attempts to redefine birthright citizenship, and pardons for January 6 participants deepened national divisions and hindered effective governance. Meanwhile, rolling back protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or removing resources like the reproductiverights.gov website directly targeted ‘unworthy’ groups of Americans. Although these actions energized his base, they sacrificed long-term stability and progress for short-term political gains. Beneath the ‘America First’ rhetoric, these divisive policies weakened the country both at home and abroad.” (01/24/25)