Trump’s Imperialist Theater: How Deportation Stunts Are Isolating America

And how Russia and China benefit from this

Guatemalan migrants descend from an US military plane after being deported from US at the Guatemalan Air Force Base in Guatemala City, Jan. 24, 2025. Guatemalan Migration Institute/AFP via Getty Images

The United States has long enforced its immigration laws by quietly deporting undocumented immigrants. It was far from perfect, and the immigration system has clearly been broken for decades. Yet the process was carried out without the self-promotional spectacle we typically see in authoritarian regimes—until Trump’s second term.

Today’s standoff with Colombia is a glaring example. After Colombian President Gustavo Petro blocked unannounced U.S. military flights carrying migrants, Trump responded with a flurry of retaliatory sanctions: emergency 25% tariffs on Colombian imports (that will be raised to 50% in a week), a proposed travel ban on Colombian citizens, and punitive visa revocations for Colombian officials. It’s a melodramatic, headline-grabbing move reminiscent of a dictator flexing his muscle—not a U.S. president diplomatically engaging an ally.

Adding to the absurdity, the Department of Homeland Security’s official Twitter account even quote-tweeted Trump’s tariff threats with a casual, “We’re on it, @POTUS,” underscoring the performative nature of these announcements.

A Diplomatic Breakdown

Colombia isn’t just any country; it’s a major non-NATO ally of the United States with longstanding security and economic ties. By lashing out at Colombia—imposing tariffs, suspending visa processing, and threatening further measures—Trump is demonstrating a brand of foreign policy that alienates partners rather than cultivating alliances. This is a page out of a dictator’s handbook: make a spectacle of crackdowns to project strength and please a political base.

Simultaneously, Brazil also expressed outrage over the “degrading” treatment of its citizens—who were deported in handcuffs—and joined Colombia in condemning Trump’s heavy-handed tactics. Such incidents strain diplomatic relationships that have historically benefited America’s strategic interests, particularly in Latin America.

Theater Over Substance

In the last few weeks, Trump has rattled the globe with inflammatory remarks and actions that have set off alarms among our closest allies. After a threatening call with Denmark—making much of Europe even more cautious toward the United States—he reiterated that military options against Greenland, Canada, and Panama were not off the table, and continued his saber-rattling toward Mexico. Now add today’s tariff war with Colombia, prompting Colombian President Gustavo Petro to respond with 50% tariffs on U.S. imports.

All this accomplishes is making America look weak and isolated, and Americans will be the ones who foot the bill as prices for food and other everyday essentials skyrocket.

But that’s not all. Trump’s latest comments on the Middle East have managed to anger longstanding allies there as well. Speaking earlier today of the crisis in Gaza, he suggested “cleaning out” the entire territory—calling it a “demolition site”—and floated the idea of Jordan and Egypt taking them “temporarily, or maybe long-term.” This reckless policy will almost certainly fuel more resentment and terror threats against Americans abroad and at home, especially as Trump continues to put a sledgehammer against U.S. agencies tasked with protecting us.

Meanwhile, Trump has cozied up to China and shown zero initiative to halt Russia’s genocidal war in Ukraine—despite repeatedly claiming that he’d resolve the conflict, during the transition. While he bullies allies and ignores atrocities, he neglects real threats to American security and global stability.

Despite his bluster, Trump hasn’t taken any steps to stop Russia’s onslaught in Ukraine. Instead, he suspended crucial aid programs and cut off pathways for migrants, including Ukrainians. Russia, unfazed, continues its genocidal aggression while mocking Trump; the Russian state outlet RIA Novosti even ran an opinion piece with a photo depicting a towering Russian bear confronting a diminutive American dog.

His approach is all spectacle, no strategy—a brand of showmanship that only drives our partners away, will raise costs for U.S. consumers, and makes the world a more dangerous place for everyone.

Isolating America, Empowering Russia and China

These harsh tactics toward traditional allies will push them away, creating diplomatic rifts and this isolationism and hostility toward allies will only result in a vacuum that adversaries like Russia and China are eager to fill. When the U.S. abandons or punishes its partners, countries may look elsewhere for support—enter Moscow and Beijing, both keen to expand their spheres of influence.

This plays directly into the imperialist ambitions of both the Kremlin and the Chinese Communist Party. Russia has long worked on destroying the relationship between the U.S. and Europe—ever since the Soviet era, it has orchestrated countless efforts and operations to undermine transatlantic ties.

Russia, for its part, has long sought to erode U.S. alliances in Latin America, weakening American influence and granting Moscow greater leeway to expand its reach. Meanwhile, China stands ready to move in wherever the U.S. retreats—building infrastructure, investing in local economies, and forging partnerships with nations that feel abandoned by Washington. The more Trump dismantles established alliances, the easier it is for Russia and China to maneuver unchallenged.

Moreover, Russia can use Trump’s imperialist rhetoric as a handy pretext for its continued and future illegal invasions and annexations, claiming moral equivalence or painting its aggression as no worse than American threats. This also emboldens China’s ambitions regarding Taiwan, leaving it increasingly vulnerable to a possible invasion.

The Dangers of the “America Alone” Strategy

There’s a fine line between prioritizing national interests and bullying nations into submission. Trump’s “America First” approach has increasingly resembled “America Alone”—a posture that disregards the long-term value of alliances. This intentional and strategic short-sightedness risks leaving the U.S. in a weaker position to address global challenges, from migration crises to terrorist threats.

Final Thoughts

America has always faced immigration dilemmas. Historically, our government enforced deportations without bombast—imperfectly, but mostly through a controlled process. Now, under Trump, those deportations have become an imperialist spectacle designed to rally his base at the expense of diplomatic relations.

By treating allies like adversaries, imposing steep tariffs, and freezing aid, Trump only strengthens the hand of Russia and China—two nations more than happy to fill any void left by a combative United States. The result is an America increasingly isolated, while those who seek to undermine our global standing capitalize on the cracks in our alliances.

We should secure our borders and uphold U.S. laws while respecting international laws and partnerships. Alienating allies in a dramatic, dictatorial style is not only unnecessary but dangerous.