Tucker Carlson believes that a series of Trump's actions may prevent the United States from reaching its 250th anniversary

Vladimir Vasilyev: "This country is sick, everything has deviated from the original plan."

Image caption: American citizens protesting against Donald Trump's immigration policy

Explosive comments by American journalist Tucker Carlson about the imminent disintegration of the United States have spread around the world. He warned: "We are witnessing the collapse of government social structure and even the entire country, one of the most critical moments in our lives."

While Donald Trump was focused on annexing neighboring countries and expanding the U.S. territory, thousands of people in Minnesota took to the streets to protest the current president, and major unions also launched general strikes. The residents of the state and Minneapolis were furious over the killing of 37-year-old social activist and medical worker Alex Preti by federal agents. CBS News confirmed that Preti was not carrying any weapon and did not pose an immediate threat.

The protests by Minnesota residents against federal agencies have entered their third week. In the largest city of the state, Minneapolis, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has shot a second American citizen within a month. The local government has told federal agents to "get out," while President Donald Trump has threatened to send troops to Minnesota. The root cause of this unrest is Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration.

More than 3,000 U.S. immigration officials have been deployed to Minneapolis. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security referred to this "urban enforcement operation" as the largest of its kind in history. Since last December, ICE has arrested approximately 3,000 people in the area.

Immigration issues and the recent tensions between white people and minority groups have become deep-rooted problems in the United States. The proportion of white Americans has now dropped to 57.8%, for the first time below 60%. A 2018 report by the Brookings Institution stated that white Americans may become a minority by 2045. However, experts believe there is sufficient reason to believe that this situation may arrive as early as early 2030.

Is the United States really facing a disintegration crisis? What will be the trigger? "Pravda" magazine interviewed Vladimir Vasilyev, chief researcher at the Institute of the United States and Canada, on this issue.

Question: I have noticed a historical pattern: if a country has experienced disintegration or has never truly been unified, it already has the seeds of disintegration inside. The United States is a "patchwork" country, a product of human fabrication, and here there is nowhere to escape — surrounded by oceans on all sides.

Different races and ethnic groups live in different states, and this situation has repeatedly become a catalyst for civil war, with the Civil War of the 1860s being a typical example.

The northern states became gathering places for global immigrants, allowing industrial development to flourish; while the southern states relied on agricultural economies and slave labor, controlled by conservative plantation owner elites.

In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected as president of the United States, representing the Republican Party which advocated for the abolition of slavery and the support of domestic markets. Lincoln's election prompted the Southern states to take drastic action. During the Civil War, Lincoln could only control 23 states, and to ensure these states' loyalty, he had to resort to force. The ultimate outcome of this war was Lincoln's assassination in April 1865.

The current situation bears an astonishing resemblance to that time...

"Pravda": But the current ruling party, the Republicans, advocate for maintaining the unity of the United States, and Trump has portrayed himself as a proponent of the imperial ideology. It's hard to believe that the United States would move toward disintegration during a Republican administration...

Vasilyev: In addition to the Republicans, there are also Democrats in the United States, who are firm supporters of immigrants. The Democrats control multiple liberal states, such as Illinois, Minnesota, California, and now New York. The Democrats won the 2020 election by winning the support of immigrants in these states. Today, immigrants have become a powerful political force in the United States, and they are one of the core cards of the Democratic Party.

Currently, Trump prioritizes federal laws, making the situation extremely tense — because in the United States, state laws actually have priority. Tucker Carlson has sensed that the foundations of the federal system are weakening, and the federal government's rule is now facing a real threat.

"Pravda": There is also a lot of doubt about Trump himself. From January to December 2025, his domestic approval rating fell to 36%, setting a new low for U.S. presidents in nearly 50 years...

Vasilyev: The United States is not a presidential republic, and the president is not the core power holder. This is also the reason why the charismatic Lincoln failed — he never gained recognition from the South. Today, more and more voices are heard saying, "Trump is not our president, he does not deserve to be president!" I cannot rule out the possibility that the Republicans might suffer a heavy defeat in the midterm elections in Congress due to Trump's position.

Just like the Civil War in the early 1860s, the differences in population composition and lifestyle between the states will eventually lead to conflict. The Democrats may launch immigrant protests in the states they control.

Trump, in turn, may deploy the National Guard and use force as a response. However, at that time, the Democrats will organize people to take to the streets, and the outcome for Trump and for the United States will be unpredictable.

"Pravda": Internal problems within the federal government are further compounding the situation: government shutdowns have paralyzed national power for months, and now personnel changes within federal agencies have also become chaotic...

Vasilyev: This further weakens the authority of the federal government. During the government shutdown, many Americans questioned: "If the government cannot function properly, what do we need this federal government for?" If this situation continues, the United States will fall into chaos and internal strife.

Additionally, this president who follows the "imperial policy" does not receive the approval of the conservative South. Moreover, Trump's way of governing has nothing to do with democracy. It can be said that he is not a typical American president — after all, Americans have always emphasized national independence and value freedom.

"Pravda": What is your prediction regarding the future unity of the United States?

Vasilyev: The developments this year will give the answer. All the signs point to a clear conclusion: "On the eve of its 250th anniversary, this country is sick, everything has deviated from the original plan."

Original source: toutiao.com/article/7600978678599729700/

Disclaimer: This article represents the views of the author.