Donald Trump’s Empire of Grift
The article argues that the Trump administration has weaponized U.S. foreign policy to serve private interests and support authoritarian allies. It cites the imposition of tariffs on Brazil and sanctions against Brazilian officials as evidence of a shift toward transactional, anti-democratic governance.
Why it matters
It raises significant concerns about the erosion of traditional diplomatic norms and the potential for foreign policy to be used for personal or political retribution.
Global Donald Trump’s Empire of Grift Far-right ideologues have transformed American foreign policy into a tool of private gain and antidemocratic reaction.
Save In the summer of 2025, the government of Brazil suddenly found itself in a deep crisis. The Trump administration had unexpectedly imposed 50 percent tariffs on the country’s products, threatening everyone from coffee planters to shoe manufacturers. At the same time, the United States canceled the visas of eight Brazilian supreme-court justices and placed unprecedented financial and travel sanctions on a powerful justice and his family.
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