Chapter 28: Trump’s Corrosion of America’s Moral and Ethical Power (Part II)

During his four years as president, Trump continued every day like a magician, sending out a flood of tweets to deceive voters, consolidate his base, and pursue reelection. According to a Washington Post “Fact Checker” report in January 2019, in the first two years of his presidency, Trump issued 7,645 false or misleading tweets. Over three years in office, he sent over 10,000 tweets, sometimes as many as 140 in a single day, most designed to deceive his supporters. Trump often spoke in long, coarse, vulgar, and obscene language, verbally attacking others, seeking attention, and delivering one- to two-hour tirades without a script, providing his followers the entertainment of a live TV show.

Trump lacked morality, existed in a moral vacuum, had no basic values, and was a pathological liar—the likes of whom had never appeared in the White House in 250 years. He was both a political thug and a crude, vulgar street gangster, shamelessly boasting about his ability to do anything to women, including grabbing them inappropriately. During the 2016 campaign, he illegally used campaign funds to pay hush money to two women who accused him of sexual misconduct.

During his three years in office, Trump fulfilled his TV catchphrase “You’re fired” by repeatedly dismissing countless officials who maintained their conscience and refused to obey him. American democracy was toyed with by a magician, marking a deep humiliation in the nation’s 250-year democratic history. Fortunately, the foundations of U.S. democracy are strong, and freedom of speech is protected. Over 500 constitutional scholars and 750 historians publicly supported Trump’s impeachment, with more than a dozen national newspapers, including The New York Times, publishing editorials in favor. Yet Trump, protected by Republican leader Mitch McConnell, escaped impeachment, and the Republican Party became effectively the Trump Party.

Even today, the vast majority of Republican Party members remain highly loyal to Trump. A Republican Party driven by economic interests and the pursuit of political power continues to defend him vigorously, preparing for his potential political comeback. Liz Cheney said: “Those who refuse to accept our court rulings are declaring war on the Constitution. Our duty is clear. Every one of us who has taken an oath must act to prevent the destruction of our democracy. This is not about policy. This is not about party. This is our responsibility as Americans. Silence in the face of lies only emboldens liars. I will not remain silent. At this moment, America stands at the forefront of another Cold War—this time with Communist China. Attacks on our democratic process and the rule of law empower our adversaries and strengthen the narrative that American democracy is failing.”

During Trump’s administration, the Hong Kong “Anti-Extradition Movement” took place. Trump, prioritizing economic interests, ignored the Hong Kong people’s calls for freedom. His appeasement allowed the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to act with impunity, violating obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong Basic Law, abolishing Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy, and effectively destroying “one country, two systems” with the National Security Law. Trump disregarded the diplomatic consequences of America’s loss of moral authority, a situation that President Biden is now correcting. In May 2020, after the United States determined Hong Kong no longer enjoyed autonomy, the Chinese government further dismantled it, enacting the National Security Law, arbitrarily arresting pro-democracy protesters, opposition figures, and political actors, and drastically reducing the number of directly elected members in the Hong Kong Legislative Council. Hong Kong no longer enjoyed the autonomous trade and financial privileges it had held since the 1997 sovereignty handover.

As a businessman, Trump restricted China to a trade war. The main problem with the trade war is that it ignores the core of the U.S.-China issue. Ultimately, the U.S.-China confrontation is a struggle between the Communist system and universal values. A trade war only scratches the surface; it does not strike at the bones. The bones of the Communist system are political authoritarianism and ideology. The CCP relies on both violence and deceptive propaganda, with specialized departments producing daily narratives to deceive the public. As Pompeo said, “Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping firmly believes in the bankrupt authoritarian ideology. His ideology supports his decades-long pursuit of world dominance built upon Chinese Communism. We can no longer ignore the fundamental political and ideological differences between the U.S. and China, just as the CCP never has.”

Only by mounting a comprehensive strategy, shifting from a trade war to an ideological political war, can the U.S. strike at the core of Communist despotism. Such a political war poses no threat to the U.S. economy domestically—it is directed externally, not internally, causing no burden to businesses or citizens. Politically, the U.S. occupies the moral high ground, with universal values recognized worldwide, while CCP authoritarianism remains isolated, giving the U.S. absolute advantage.

In 1983, President Reagan publicly denounced the Soviet Union as the “Evil Empire.” Today, the Red Empire 2.0 is far more evil than the Soviet Union. Unfortunately, President Trump’s understanding is limited; he cannot see the threat of the Red Empire and repeatedly says, “President Xi is my good friend.” Trump only wanted Xi to buy American soybeans, wheat, and corn to please his Midwestern farmers and secure votes for reelection.

America’s strength depends on economic power, military power, and moral authority. Economic and military strength alone, without morality, constitutes dangerous brute force. How is such power different from authoritarianism or fascism? President Trump treated allies purely as business partners, severely damaging America’s moral authority, reducing its influence, and undermining its credibility and international standing.

Zhong Wen concludes: The ancient saying goes, “Those who act in accordance with the Way gain much support; those who stray from it gain little.” A nation’s strength, if not built upon God’s principles, cannot endure. For the United States to maintain its role as the world’s leader, it must rely not only on hard power, soft power, and intelligence but most importantly on moral authority. Moral authority is the ultimate weapon by which liberalism can overcome Communism. The ultimate source of America’s moral authority is not its economic might, not the advantages of its system, nor the cleverness of its diplomacy—but the values of human equality and free will granted by God. These values drive Americans’ immense technological creativity and capacity for institutional self-renewal, making the United States, under God’s protection, a beacon of freedom and light for humanity.