Bully mentality

Donald Trump’s second tenure in the White House has been marked less by statesmanship than by spectacle. His return has unleashed a torrent of erratic diplomacy, abrasive rhetoric, and controversial alliances that have unsettled allies and emboldened adversaries. What emerges is a portrait of a leader whose actions often blur the boundaries of protocol, leaving the global order more fractured than before. Perhaps the most striking episode has been Trump’s embrace of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Despite Putin’s indictment by the International Criminal Court for war crimes in Ukraine, Trump extended an invitation for a state visit and hosted him in Canada, defying boycott calls and international censure. In doing so, he effectively rehabilitated Putin’s pariah status, signaling that he did not view the Russian leader as culpable, even as atrocities against Ukrainian civilians since 2022 remain vivid in global memory. Trump’s disregard for norms extends beyond Russia. His name surfaces in the Epstein files for alleged misconduct, while his economic policies reflect a brand of hardline capitalist bully that thrives on disruption. Arbitrary tariffs imposed under his watch have rattled economies across continents, underscoring his penchant for shock tactics rather than coherent strategy. Equally troubling are Trump’s self-styled peace initiatives. He promised to broker peace between Israel and Hamas but instead justified Israel’s bombing on civilian buildings and also dispatched warplanes to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. He boasted of resolving tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, though no such agreement materialized beyond tentative diplomatic soundings. His reliance on military muscle was used to justify Israel and Russia’s continued bombings of civilian areas. These actions reinforce his image as a bully rather than a statesman, wielding force as a substitute for negotiation .Venezuela has also borne the brunt of Trump’s aggressive posture. In retaliation for alleged cocaine trafficking networks totaling 400 tons annually to Europe and America , he imposed a virtual blockade, crippling its economy and dismissing the sovereignty of President Nicolás Maduro. The hypocrisy is glaring: while castigating Venezuela, Trump openly embraces leaders such as Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, both accused of war crimes. Trump’s electoral victory over Joe Biden was framed as a choice between vigor and senility, yet his tenure has been defined less by strength than by spectacle. His pursuit of the Nobel Peace Prize illustrates this obsession with recognition. Trump has claimed credit for ceasefires between India and Pakistan and between Israel and Hamas, though both assertions crumble under scrutiny. India has flatly rejected his claims, while the fragile truce in Gaza has collapsed under continued bombardments. The larger picture is sobering. With Trump at the helm, the world faces heightened instability rather than peace. His opportunism thrives on conflict, offering him the stage to posture as a broker of ceasefires even when his efforts yield little substance. The FIFA peace prize he was awarded recently could be more of an attempt to use his services to make football gain firm foothold in the USA. Far from being an ambassador of peace, Trump embodies opportunism and naked greed, leveraging crises for personal acclaim. As his second term progresses, the international community must brace for more turbulence. Trump’s presidency is not a chapter of reconciliation but a theatre of contradictions-where diplomacy is sacrificed at the altar of ego, and peace remains a distant mirage.