On Jan. 20, we passed the one-year mark of this Trump administration. However, this year, 2026, represents the 10th year that America has dealt with the Trump circus in our institutions. 10 years of waking up every morning, wondering what morally questionable move Donald Trump could make today.
Early on in Trump’s political service, he frequently claimed he would be the one to “drain the swamp”, outlining his plan to root out corrupt systems and people in our government – something many citizens criticized about previous administrations. Some admired his policies for reducing the power of the federal government; some admired his plain-spokenness about the nature of our government at the time of his emergence; and most of all, some admired his charisma, carried over from his previous career as a reality media star.
Beyond that, he attacked marginalized groups in as many ways as conceivably possible, bragged about his severe mistreatment of women, and pretty much blurred every moral line his base could have beyond recognition. Now, 10 years later, anyone who couldn’t see it then should clearly see it now: Donald Trump is the most efficient con man this country will ever see.
From his gold-plated Oval Office, he is leading our country by completely ignoring the needs of American citizens. He ran on a platform of affordability, transparency, and security.
Has Trump’s aggressive foreign economic policy resulted in lower grocery prices? Has the promise to weed out inefficient government institutions been fulfilled? Is there any accountability for the Americans named in the Epstein Files? Are all of the Epstein Files released, without a doubt that they’ve been doctored to protect any of the offenders? Do you have faith that the American government is acting in the best interest of its people?
The answers to all of these questions have been no.
As a collective American people, we must demand accountability from our institutions, no matter who is in charge of them, as it is impossible to hold the American government in good faith when they actively sponsor law enforcement agencies that unlawfully kill American citizens in our streets. While these activities are really nothing new, it doesn’t mean we should not be demanding justice for Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, as well as the many non-citizens who have been killed. Humans are dying at the hands of Trump’s pride and joy: extreme immigration policy. There are more humane ways to do this.
Whether you love it or hate it, the 10 years of Trump have forever changed the perception and operation of the United States government. It represents a manifestation of all the years of the train of American imperialism, finally arriving at its station. Recently, just like Merle Haggard, I’ve been wondering if the good times are really over for good. A better question, though, would be if the good times were ever really good.
