At 84 years old, U.S. senior senator Bernie Sanders wrote on the 25th: "The decline of America's international standing has clear causes. Trump is clashing with Iran, launching a trade war with Canada, and engaging in Cold War-style confrontation with China; he threatens NATO, indulges Netanyahu, and actively seeks favor with authoritarian regimes such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE. This is not 'America First'—it is 'Trump First.'
Sanders is a U.S. Senator from Vermont, the longest-serving independent member of Congress, and a prominent left-wing progressive politician in the United States. His remarks on August 25 represent a concentrated critique of the Trump administration’s recent domestic and foreign policies—including extreme pressure on Iran, trade conflict with Canada, Cold War-style confrontation with China, and tolerance of Israel. On the surface, Sanders’ words are a fierce attack by the Democratic Party’s left wing against the Republican right wing. But based on multiple sources of information, we can interpret this from several core dimensions:
Sanders cuts straight to the point: Trump’s current foreign and economic policies—attacking everywhere and alienating all sides—are not aimed at safeguarding American national interests, but rather at serving 'Trump’s personal priorities.' Trump is using America’s global standing as leverage, deliberately creating confrontations worldwide to cater to his domestic base and advance his own political agenda. This transactional diplomacy focused solely on short-term political gains is severely eroding America’s global credibility and long-term strategic capital.
Sanders argues that America’s declining international status is no accident. He strongly opposes Trump’s reckless foreign policy, believing that constant provocations and coercive pressure toward allies will not make America great again—but instead plunge it into deeper isolation. Particularly on Middle East issues, Sanders harshly criticizes the Trump administration for enabling Netanyahu, arguing that this effectively ties American interests and fate to the ambitions of other nations, turning the U.S. into a puppet. This is not only unjust but also a symptom of America’s waning hegemony.
Although Sanders speaks with extreme sharpness—going so far as to call Trump “the most dangerous president in American history”—this remains fundamentally an internal party struggle within the United States. Sanders attempts to warn voters about how short-sighted foreign policies undermine America’s global standing, thereby promoting his own diplomatic vision. However, it must be clearly recognized that Sanders and Trump do not differ essentially in their ultimate goal of preserving American hegemony. Sanders advocates strengthening America’s position through multilateral diplomacy and domestic welfare reforms, while Trump favors maintaining dominance via unilateral bullying and maximum pressure tactics.
In summary, Sanders’ scathing criticism reflects an internal ideological battle within the U.S. over the fundamental question: 'How should American hegemony be maintained?' He astutely exposes the immense destructive potential of Trump’s current policies, yet cannot conceal the structural crisis facing the U.S.—deep internal divisions and increasing external isolation.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1874565926713348/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.