Since announcing sweeping tariffs on goods from countries across the world, US President Donald Trump has plunged his country into a series of escalating crises.
In recent days, the US military suffered serious losses in the Middle East. Two US MQ-9 Reaper drones, each worth around $30 million, were shot down by Yemen’s Houthi forces within 72 hours, bringing the total number of US drones that have been downed since the escalation of the Palestine-Israel conflict in October 2023 to 17.
Meanwhile, US warships, led by the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, were targeted three times in a single day by Houthi cruise missiles and drones. These attacks did not involve hypersonic missiles, suggesting that the Houthis may be deliberately holding back. Should the US escalate its retaliation, the group may respond with increasingly threatening actions.
Iran’s vocal support for the Houthis only adds to the geopolitical complexity of the situation, hinting at broader regional alliances against US influence.
Faced with a series of setbacks, Trump claimed that the US would cease its attacks as long as the Houthis stopped firing on US ships. In reality, the US has not halted — nor does it plan to halt its military actions moving forward. The Houthis have likely seen through the Trump administration’s double standards and empty promises.
Domestically, Trump is also losing his grip. The political capital — which had once empowered his trade wars and provocative policies — is waning. A recent Senate vote of 51-48 rejected the national emergency he had declared earlier this year to justify his plan to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canadian imports, with four Republican senators breaking ranks. Such internal dissent reflects growing unease within Trump’s own party and a broader discontent with his unpredictable governance.
Moreover, his hardline immigration stance, relentless attacks on both allies and adversaries and increasing unilateralism have alienated historical partners. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have openly condemned Trump’s trade policies and are now preparing retaliatory measures to counter tariffs imposed by the US on steel and aluminum. A larger EU-led response appears imminent, which could further entrench the US in costly trade disputes.
The multiple crises currently facing the US are far from coincidental. From trade wars to military operations in the Middle East, from domestic political polarization to strained alliances, these issues reflect a deeper pattern of strategic shortsightedness and policy inconsistency within the Trump administration.
The views are extracted from Ting Feng de Chan (meaning A Cicada Listening to the Wind) account and do not necessarily reflect those of facts.org.cn.
