Are We Now the Bad Guys?

There was a time, not too long ago, when America stood as the beacon of freedom, the defender of democracy, and the steadfast ally of those who resisted oppression. We weren’t perfect—far from it—but we tried to stand for something bigger than ourselves. Yet today, as I watch the behavior of our political leaders, the comments of an ever-increasingly unhinged Trump, and the growing indifference of many Americans toward our role in the world, I have to ask a painful question: Are we now the bad guys?

Donald Trump’s recent comments on Ukraine and NATO were a stark reminder of how far we’ve fallen. At a distant campaign rally, he gleefully recounted a conversation in which he told NATO allies that if they didn’t pay what he deemed their "fair share," he would encourage Russia to "do whatever the hell they want." This was not a slip of the tongue or a misstatement—this was a deliberate, public declaration that the United States, once the protector of Europe, would now entertain the idea of abandoning our allies to Russian aggression.

Yesterday, he called Ukraine the aggressor, today he called Zelensky a dictator, and claimed that Russia could be expected to keep the land they got in Ukraine because “it cost them alot of lives to get it.” Moscow is shocked, and wondering if they are dreaming. In the words of the former Russian President now Putin stooge:

Think about that. For decades, Republican and Democratic presidents alike understood that America’s leadership in NATO and Ukraine wasn’t about charity—it was about maintaining a world where authoritarian expansionism was kept in check. It was about preventing the kind of bloodshed and instability that we now see in Ukraine, and making clear that our allies are safe and America’s word means something. Now Trump’s allies smile and pretend it’s all ok in order to have access to power. And to what end? Their shame will be eternal.

This isn’t just about Ukraine or NATO. Trump’s cozying up to dictators like Putin and China’s Xi Jinping reflects a deeper trend—one where we seem more enamored with strongmen than the ideals that once defined us. We see it in how some on the right openly admire Viktor Orbán’s authoritarian grip on Hungary. We see it in the bizarre reverence Trump and his allies have for Putin—some even wearing shirts that praise the Russian dictator. We see it in the growing disdain for democracy itself, with Republicans at both the state and national level working to restrict voting rights, undermine free elections, and criminalize dissent.

And what’s worse? A significant portion of the American public seems fine with it.

There was a time when supporting democracy abroad and standing up to authoritarian bullies was a bipartisan principle. But today, a frightening number of Americans have bought into the idea that America’s moral leadership doesn’t matter anymore. They see foreign policy as a zero-sum game—if we help Ukraine, we somehow lose. If we stand up for human rights abroad, we’re wasting resources. If we defend democracy, we’re being "globalists."

This shift isn’t just concerning—it’s dangerous. The world is watching. Our allies in Europe and Asia are questioning whether they can count on us, whether America still means what it says. And our adversaries—Putin, Xi, and every dictator with territorial ambitions—are licking their chops, waiting for America to fully turn inward, to abandon its role as the leader of the free world.

So I ask again: Are we now the bad guys?

If we let Trump’s vision for America take hold—one where we embrace tyrants, abandon our allies, and turn our backs on democracy—then the answer may very well be yes. And once that transformation is complete, history will not be kind to us. Thankfully, America has always fought back from low points, and I truly believe this is no exception. We just need to be wide eyed about the facts.