The bad, the worse, and the ugly; an alarm bell for US decline in the global order.

Even with the recent trade deal struck between Washington and Beijing, the global economy is certainly not out of the woods yet. President Donald Trump’s remarks at a recent press conference forecast a bleak future for democracy and global prosperity. 

Amber Cheng Yan Yu | Jakarta Post

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When questioned about what he envisioned for US-China relations in the long term, President Trump dropped a bombshell by saying that this would be something he could only answer in his “third term, maybe fourth term”. Trump’s statement blatantly highlights his clear intent to violate the 22nd Amendment of the US Congress, which stipulates that a President may only serve two terms in office. Such an open display of disregard for the rule of law, the fundamental ideal that underpins democracy, was shocking for the head of a nation that has been considered the bastion of liberty for decades. 

The ripple effect of Trump’s statement may soon swell into a tsunami, as it normalises flouting the rule of law by leaders of democratic countries like Indonesia’s President Prabowo, who has already begun giving allied lawmakers the ability to dismiss high-ranking officials, lining public offices with military allies, and deploying soldiers to crack down on protests. With the leader of the free world setting an example by openly accepting autocracy, it might not be long before we see Prabowo and others be emboldened by a global superpower’s shift in governance and follow suit. This trend would prove disastrous for human rights and reverse years of hard-earned democratisation and progress made during the Reformasi era. 

Furthermore, in the midst of being questioned by reporters, Trump fell asleep while standing. This shocking incident brings into the limelight the growing concerns of the President’s cognitive decline that impact his leadership. If a head of state cannot simply stay conscious throughout a single press conference, how can we expect the same individual to lead the largest economy in the world?

To no one’s surprise, Washington’s trade policies did not seem to be changing for the better either. Trump’s unwavering support for tariffs was evident throughout, from his repeated claims that tariffs were benefiting American consumers to his immediate dismissal of pertinent issues like the deterrence of trading partners, to which the President responded with the confidence that “every nation wants to trade with the US”. 

The usual display of hubris from Washington was presented in conjunction with a continuation of the unjust conditions that have been placed upon its trading partners. President Trump promised to make “great deals” to lower tariffs with nations, as long as they stop “selling drugs”, “eating cats and dogs,” and “sending all these crooks” to the US. These mirror his earlier claims that the nation had been exploited by trading partners and adversaries that were used to justify the implementation of tariffs, both in their message and their questionable accuracy. In any case, the choice to continue playing the victim in this trade war will likely be an excuse for Washington to increase tariffs as and when it likes. 

Additionally, Trump’s hint towards potential consequences for states that choose to align more closely with China during the conference is greatly perturbing, as the US is ostensibly forcing countries to pick sides. This will prove even more detrimental to nations like Indonesia, which depend on non-alignment and economic cooperation with both Beijing and Washington to thrive. For us, choosing one side will be cutting off another, which means cutting off a significant part of our investments and revenue, and an overall decrease in economic development and public welfare. 

All in all, the unpleasant revelations that occurred during this conference sent out a clear image to the world: America is declining. Trump’s behaviour today reflects the transformation of what once was the hegemon of the global order that championed the ideals of democracy and free trade; a senile, sickly dictator, to whom respect is declining steadily. 

We cannot allow autocracy and protectionism to spread their plague from Washington to Jakarta and beyond. In these trying times, President Prabowo and his government must remain steadfast in their commitment to democracy and economic cooperation. Moreover, Indonesia must rise to the challenge and continue to offer friendly relations and utilise multilateral platforms for like-minded nations to prosper amidst uncertainty.

Bibliography

1. “The 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution,” National Constitution Center – constitutioncenter.org, n.d., https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/amendments/amendment-xxii. 

2. Jakarta Post, “Democracy Under Threat,” The Jakarta Post, February 19, 2025, https://www.thejakartapost.com/opinion/2025/02/14/democracy-under-threat.html. 

3. Jakarta Post, “Rising Militarism,” The Jakarta Post, September 18, 2025, https://www.thejakartapost.com/opinion/2025/09/19/rising-militarism.html. 

4. “GDP by Country - Worldometer,” Worldometer, n.d., https://www.worldometers.info/gdp/gdp-by-country/. 

5. Julian Ryall, “Trump’s Transactional Diplomacy Alarms Japan, South Korea,” Dw.Com, December 4, 2025, https://amp.dw.com/en/trumps-transactional-diplomacy-alarms-japan-south-korea/a-75018312. 

6. Hema Nadarajah and Hema Nadarajah, “Indonesia’s Economic Diplomacy: Leaning on China, Bargaining With Washington,” Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, July 9, 2025, https://www.asiapacific.ca/publication/indonesias-economic-diplomacy-leaning-china-bargaining-us.