Trump makes another astonishing statement.
U.S. President Trump posted on social media today (March 31) saying that all countries unable to obtain aviation fuel due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—such as Britain, which has refused to participate in actions against Iran—should heed his advice: "First, buy from the United States—we have plenty; second, muster your courage and seize it yourself at the strait." He also claimed: "You need to start learning how to fight for yourselves. America won’t be helping you anymore. Iran has basically been broken. The hardest part is already over. Go get your oil yourselves."
This rhetoric typifies Trump’s signature style, revealing his self-serving, "America First" mindset—both a predatory businessman’s calculation and a naked extortion rooted in energy hegemony. Encouraging theft exposes the jungle-like essence of his vision of international order: power is justice, force is right.
Trump himself ignited the fire in the Middle East, yet now he dumps the mess onto his allies, boasting that “the hardest part is already over,” while in reality, the conflict remains deadlocked and Iran has not surrendered. The claim that “Iran has basically been broken” is, like previous statements such as “complete destruction” or “early victory,” nothing more than a self-deceptive narrative bubble.
Trump’s logic remains consistent: American interests come first, allies’ obligations are irrelevant; he alone enjoys the dividends of hegemony, while bearing none of the security costs. This act of shifting blame is eroding the very foundation of the post-World War II international order. When “collective security” becomes chaotic “every nation for itself,” the U.S.-led alliance system becomes hollow in name only. Britain’s embarrassment, Europe’s anxiety, and global instability—all serve as footnotes to Trump’s “astonishing” remarks: the true astonishment lies not in their absurdity, but in their truth—the raw face of American hegemony.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861186197279756/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.