OPINION: The Make America Great Again (MAGA) Movement could end it all

In the dawn of the beginning of 2026, the Donald Trump administration launched an attack on the Latin American country of Venezuela and captured its president, Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, the first lady. That action occurred after months of destructive attacks on boats off the coast of Venezuela, which Trump claimed to have been carrying illegal drugs bound for America. Of course, no proof of such was ever provided, which is frequently the case of many Trump allegations. 

In order to counter criticism of its actions, the administration claimed that the capture and arrest were merely actions on a criminal matter spelled out in a justice department indictment and that it did not need to notify Congress nor get its approval for such actions. Even if that was true, which it is not, the actions violated the spirit of the American Constitution, ignored United Nations statues, violated international law, and simply do not square with the idea of treating others as one would want to be treated. They were based upon the dictum that “might makes right” and the bully’s challenge, “who’s gonna stop me?” 

To make matters even worse, the administration has stated that it will be running the country for an unspecified period of time and that the current vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, who has been recognized as the interim president, will be dealt with if she does not do the things that they want done. This is the pure re-emergence of the European imperialism of the 15th-20th centuries. Trump, within the last several weeks, has demonstrated his willingness to send troops to Iran to protect anti-government protesters, since that may help him obtain control of oil in the Middle East, as he anticipates in Venezuela. Finally, on that note, one is left to wonder what will be the next act of brinkmanship on the part of Trump and his MAGA movement. It is clear that Trump plans to do whatever he desires, as if he is king of the world. We could soon see wars in Somalia, Iran, Greenland, Cuba, and many other countries that the MAGA zealots feel that Trump could defeat. 

We consider these actions and the threats behind them to be parts of the MAGA movement because those who fervently embrace it believe that America’s greatest days were when American leaders controlled the Native and Black populations in this country and the resources of many countries in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. (We should remember that unchecked lawlessness breeds more lawlessness; that power corrupts and that absolute power corrupts absolutely. These are hallmarks of the Trump administration.) The dream of the MAGA crowd is to return to those “glory days” wherein their power was unchecked. The problem is that too much of the rest of the world has progressed to the point that such adventures would likely lead to globe-threatening world wars rather than giving-in to a new round of imperialistic oppression. 

It is through those same lenses that MAGA supporters also view American residents. They think of the United States of America as being a white country, despite the fact that it was first occupied by the so-called Indian people, who were decimated by the Europeans and was developed largely by the forced and exploited labor of African, Asian and Hispanic workers. 

As a result of their biased view, MAGA supporters cheer the Trump administration’s “war” on immigrants, especially those from Latin American, African, and Arabic countries. As a result of their biased views, they are pleased to see the elimination of “diversity, equity, and inclusion” initiatives; pleased to see attacks on Black studies curricular matters; and pleased to see the diminishing of programs that assist working class people, even though many of them are in the working class themselves.

As Trump steps up his attacks on the non-white people in America, not only is the concept of democracy under-minded, leading to fascism or dictatorial rule. It helps non-white people understand the nature of white supremacy and what it takes to defeat it here and elsewhere.

Yet, the MAGA zealots are doubly determined to rule the world, letting nobody and nothing get in their way, having learned a great deal not just from Nazi Germany, apartheid South Africa, and American slave-holders, but from generations of ex-Confederates who overthrew Reconstruction, created Jim Crow, and stand ready to reduce millions to a state of permanent dependency.

While the writer is no alarmist, it is his considered opinion that unless and until many more people – Black, Brown, Red, White, and Yellow – realize and stand-up to put an end to the MAGA foolishness and brinkmanship, it could all soon be over for us all.