What Happens to America If Trump Stays on The Path He Has Chosen
Brian Sankarsingh thinks about the POTUS endgame
TO OUR LOYAL READERS: Hi everyone, it’s Brian here. Before we dive into today’s article, I’d like to ask for a small favour. This year, we're aiming to grow our community of readers. We're proud to be in the top 1% of Substack publishers for consistent content — which means you can count on us for a steady stream of engaging, thought-provoking articles, all completely free.
We don’t charge for subscriptions, but if you enjoy what you read here, please consider sharing our Substack with a friend or colleague. It’s a simple way to support our work and help us reach more curious minds.
Thanks so much! Now, here’s today’s article
If Donald Trump continues with high tariffs on global trade partners and leans into his anti-immigrant, nationalist agenda, the long-term consequences for America could be severe. You’ll see higher costs of living, fewer international allies, and growing divisions at home. The US would become more isolated—economically, politically, and culturally. Let’s face it this isn't just about disliking Trump’s tone. It’s about what his actual policies mean for the future of the country you live in.
On the Tariff War
Trump's trade policies—particularly the use of sweeping tariffs—are pitched as a way to protect American workers. But that story leaves out what happens when your country starts charging every other country more money just to do business. Trump imposed heavy tariffs not just on rivals like China, but also on long-standing allies like Canada, the European Union, and Japan. These nations retaliated with tariffs of their own. This creates what economists call a trade war—but you don’t need an economics degree to know how this ends. Prices go up. Demand goes down. Trade slows. Businesses struggle. Stock markets plunge. Investors grow wary. People suffer. Recession and depression are the order of the day.
You feel that at the store. Groceries, electronics, and cars get more expensive. Farmers lose access to foreign markets. Manufacturers pay more for materials. That means layoffs, fewer new jobs, and slower wage growth. If Trump continues this tariff-heavy approach, you can expect:
A shrinking global market for American products
Weaker industries that rely on global supply chains
Inflation driven by increased costs of imported goods
Decreased foreign investment in U.S. businesses
However, that’s not the end of the slide. This isn’t about short-term pain for long-term gain. It's just long-term damage. The U.S. has traditionally held global influence not just because of its military power, but because of its economic partnerships and diplomatic leadership. Trump's America retreats from that role. High tariffs and hostile rhetoric have already pushed countries like Canada and Germany to look elsewhere for trade partners. The U.S. pulled out of multilateral agreements, cut foreign aid, and insulted key allies. When that happens, other countries will move into the vacuum left behind. That’s a problem. America becomes less influential in the very arenas that shape global technology, energy policy, and conflict resolution. When you isolate your economy and alienate your friends, you end up with:
Less ability to set international standards
Diminished leverage in future conflicts
Fewer options in global crises, from climate change to security threats
The U.S. can’t lead the world if it won’t work with it.
On Immigration
Trump’s message on immigration isn’t subtle. He targets immigrants—especially non-white immigrants—as threats to jobs, safety, and national identity. That plays well with parts of his base, but it tears at the fabric of a diverse, pluralistic society.
His current deployment of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as a de facto anti-immigration, capture and deport tool doesn’t just shape immigration. It shapes public attitudes. It makes it easier for people to see immigrants—and anyone who looks or sounds “different”—as outsiders. This deport now – ask questions later attitude is already evident.
This creates a culture where suspicion, resentment, and hostility grow. And not just toward immigrants. Trump’s rhetoric also targets women, LGBTQ+ communities, and anyone who doesn’t fall in line. It encourages a vision of America that’s smaller and more exclusive.
The consequences of this are real. You see it in increases in hate crimes and political violence, deepening partisan divides that gridlock government and a sense of fear and distrust that bleeds into daily life. When you divide a country by race, origin, or religion, you don't get unity. You get unrest. Alongside economic isolation and cultural division is something even more dangerous: the erosion of democratic norms. Trump has repeatedly challenged the legitimacy of elections, attacked the free press, and purged dissenting voices from his own administration. He’s made loyalty to him more important than loyalty to the country or the Constitution. That weakens democratic institutions. It sets a precedent where power is concentrated in fewer hands and checks and balances become optional.
If this pattern continues unchecked, you may see increased efforts to suppress voting and control election outcomes. Given that his MAGA base is prone to violence this could lead to courts stacked with loyalists who ignore constitutional limits and eventually public trust in democracy will be replaced by apathy or fear. That’s not dramatic. It’s already happening.
Putting it all together
So, let’s put these pieces together—economic isolation, diplomatic withdrawal, social division, and weakened democracy—and you get a country that is smaller in every sense. Smaller economically, because it’s no longer fully participating in the global market. Smaller diplomatically, because it’s no longer trusted by allies. Smaller culturally, because it defines belonging so narrowly. Smaller politically, because it replaces democratic power with personality cults.
My American friends - if Trump continues on this path, your world becomes narrower. You have fewer opportunities, less safety, and more conflict in your day-to-day life. And most importantly, you lose the promise of what America could be—an open, vibrant, democratic society that leads with both strength and purpose. You don’t have to agree with every policy from past administrations to see that the current direction is harmful. You don’t even have to dislike Trump personally. You just have to look at the outcomes.
Ask yourself:
Do I want to pay more for everything I buy?
Do I want my country to lose its voice in global affairs?
Do I want to live in a society defined by who it excludes?
Do I want democracy to become optional?
If the answer to any of those is no, then it’s worth asking what you can do to stop this trajectory. Because it won’t reverse itself. It takes pressure. It takes clarity. It takes action and that means you need to get politically active. Trump’s policies are not just short-term strategies. They are reshaping the identity and future of America. And the choice of where this goes next—still, for now—belongs to you.
Bio: BRIAN SANKARSINGH is a two-time award-winning poet and author. He is a Trinidadian-born Canadian immigrant who has published several books on a wide range of social and historical themes including racism, colonialism, and enslavement. Sankarsingh artfully blends prose and poetry into his storytelling creating an eclectic mix with both genres. This unique approach is sure to provide something for everyone.
Thanks for reading Seeking Veritas by The Professor, The Poet & Friends! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.