Friends, yesterday I watched the full press conference/debate between Trump and Zelenskyy, and I wanted to share some thoughts. This is a contentious topic, and by no means am I downplaying the very real horror of war. This isn’t about taking sides—it’s about he historical reality of power.
In recent decades, Western foreign policy has been dressed up in the language of democracy and moral responsibility, but this meeting finally shattered that illusion. Trump made it clear that America’s support is a transaction. This is old-school power politics (AKA Political Realism) and basically a return to how the world has worked throughout history.
Trump didn’t talk to Zelenskyy like a partner; he talked to him like an emperor addressing a client king of Rome. The message is clear: be useful and grateful or be ignored. Throughout history, stronger powers very rarely handed out support for free—they expected loyalty and results. If a client ruler wasn’t sufficiently useful, he would be replaced. Trump’s attitude toward Ukraine isn’t that different.
Under previous administrations, supporting Ukraine was framed as a duty until Trump flipped that claim: America comes first. If backing Ukraine helps the U.S., great! If it risks dragging America into a bigger war or simply costs too much, then why keep doing it? This is the unfiltered political realism that defined empires.
And it’s not just about Ukraine—Europe is being forced into the same reality check. For years, we have relied on American security guarantees. Now, with the U.S. questioning its "commitments," Europe is waking up to the fact that we may have to take more responsibility for our own security. Just like Ukraine, European nations are realizing that power politics is far from dead—it was just on pause while big brother took care of the schoolyard bullies.
During recent decades, America treated allies like lifelong friends. Trump treats them like business partners. It feels like a major shift, but it’s really a return to historical diplomacy. Whether that’s good or bad depends on your perspective, but one thing’s clear: Trump just reminded the world that politics is, and always has been, about power, not morals.
Welcome back to hardball diplomacy...
BTW I've been thinking of making a video on how political realism has always shaped history—from ancient empires to today. If you’d watch that, let me know!
Legendary Lore
Friends, yesterday I watched the full press conference/debate between Trump and Zelenskyy, and I wanted to share some thoughts. This is a contentious topic, and by no means am I downplaying the very real horror of war. This isn’t about taking sides—it’s about he historical reality of power.
In recent decades, Western foreign policy has been dressed up in the language of democracy and moral responsibility, but this meeting finally shattered that illusion. Trump made it clear that America’s support is a transaction. This is old-school power politics (AKA Political Realism) and basically a return to how the world has worked throughout history.
Trump didn’t talk to Zelenskyy like a partner; he talked to him like an emperor addressing a client king of Rome. The message is clear: be useful and grateful or be ignored. Throughout history, stronger powers very rarely handed out support for free—they expected loyalty and results. If a client ruler wasn’t sufficiently useful, he would be replaced. Trump’s attitude toward Ukraine isn’t that different.
Under previous administrations, supporting Ukraine was framed as a duty until Trump flipped that claim: America comes first. If backing Ukraine helps the U.S., great! If it risks dragging America into a bigger war or simply costs too much, then why keep doing it? This is the unfiltered political realism that defined empires.
And it’s not just about Ukraine—Europe is being forced into the same reality check. For years, we have relied on American security guarantees. Now, with the U.S. questioning its "commitments," Europe is waking up to the fact that we may have to take more responsibility for our own security. Just like Ukraine, European nations are realizing that power politics is far from dead—it was just on pause while big brother took care of the schoolyard bullies.
During recent decades, America treated allies like lifelong friends. Trump treats them like business partners. It feels like a major shift, but it’s really a return to historical diplomacy. Whether that’s good or bad depends on your perspective, but one thing’s clear: Trump just reminded the world that politics is, and always has been, about power, not morals.
Welcome back to hardball diplomacy...
BTW I've been thinking of making a video on how political realism has always shaped history—from ancient empires to today. If you’d watch that, let me know!
7 months ago | [YT] | 212