The Autocrat in a Democracy
History has always had its paradoxes. Rome ruled half the world while drowning in corruption. Britain commanded the seas while borrowing heavily to fund wars. America today is no different: carrying $37.6 trillion in debt, yet dictating the rules of global commerce.
Donald Trump’s second presidency embodies this paradox. Once $900 million in personal debt, mocked as a failed mogul, he is now worth $7.3 billion. His personal arc mirrors America’s: debt‑ridden yet dominant, vulnerable yet dictating the rules.
“Every empire wears the crown of debt, yet commands the world as if it were gold; Like Alexander dismissing the councils of conquered cities, Trump abandons global bodies to rule alone.”
Trump has also defied global governing bodies. He has withdrawn from or undermined the United Nations Human Rights Council, UNESCO, the World Health Organization, and the Paris Climate Accord. In doing so, he positions himself less as a participant in multilateral governance and more as an autocrat within a democracy.
“When the council chambers are abandoned, the throne room grows louder.”
• Trump 2.0 – Make Conquest Great Again
In the 4th century BCE, Alexander swept across Persia, Egypt, and India, not merely to conquer land but to control trade routes and resources. His campaigns were marked by audacity — seizing cities, installing governors, and declaring himself master of vast territories.
“Empires are not built on land alone, but on the arteries of trade and the veins of wealth; Alexander sought the Silk Road, Trump seeks oil and Arctic routes to build an empire by logistics.”
Trump 2.0 mirrors this ambition. He does not march with armies alone; he wields tariffs, sanctions, and military strikes as his siege engines. Alexander sought to control the Silk Road; Trump seeks to control oil, minerals, and Arctic sea lanes.
“Where Alexander carried swords, Trump carries tariffs- both designed to breach the walls of resistance.”
• Venezuela: Trump’s First Modern Conquest
In January 2026, U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Trump declared to the press that the United States would “run” Venezuela temporarily to “get the oil flowing.” Maduro was flown to New York, jailed, and now faces federal charges.
“Alexander toppled kings to seize their treasuries; Trump captures Maduro to seize Venezuela’s oil.”
• Cuba: A Deal or Consequences
Trump has urged Cuba to “make a deal” or face consequences, warning that the flow of Venezuelan oil and money to Havana would now stop. For decades, Cuba relied on Venezuelan subsidies; Trump’s message was clear – the lifeline is cut.
“Alexander compelled Athens to submit politically; Trump compels Havana to deal or lose its lifeline.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate advanced a bipartisan measure to restrict Trump’s power to use military force in Venezuela without congressional approval. It was a rare rebuke from his own party, signalling unease with his aggressive posture.
“When the Senate reins in the sword, the emperor learns the limits of his reach.”
• Greenland: The Arctic Prize
Greenland is not just ice and tundra; it is a fortress and a treasure chest. The island hosts the Pituffik Space Base, home to a massive radar system designed for early warnings of ballistic missile attacks on North America. For Trump, this is not merely geography; it is a shield for the empire.
As polar ice melts, Greenland’s hidden wealth is becoming accessible: vast deposits of rare earth minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and graphite, alongside an estimated 17 billion barrels of oil. These resources are critical for high‑tech industries and defence components, areas where the U.S. has long been dependent on China. Trump views Greenland as the antidote to that dependency; a mineral vault that could secure America’s technological supremacy.
Climate change adds another layer of ambition. The Northwest Passage and other Arctic routes are opening, promising to significantly shorten shipping times between Asia, Europe, and the U.S. East Coast. Control of Greenland means control of these new arteries of global trade.
“Alexander coveted Persia’s wealth; Trump covets Greenland’s minerals, oil, and routes to crown his empire.”
• Iran: Inflation and Pressure
Iran is battling inflation above 37% and a collapsing currency. As of January 2026, 1 US Dollar equals 1,000,010 Iranian Rials. Imported goods are unaffordable, wages have lost meaning, and protests erupt across Tehran’s bazaars.
“When a coin loses its value, a kingdom loses its voice; Alexander exploited weakened kingdoms; Trump exploits Iran’s collapsing rial to press his advantage.”
Trump has seized on this vulnerability, reviving sanctions and threatening further strikes.
“A collapsing currency is the soft wall through which empires march.”
• Colombia and Mexico: The Monroe Doctrine Reborn
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump widened his rhetoric beyond Venezuela. He threatened Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, warned Mexico to “get their act together,” and declared that Cuba looks ready to fall.
“The doctrine of spheres has returned, not as diplomacy, but as dominion. It was Alexander who declared whole regions his domain; Trump revives doctrines to claim the Americas as his sphere.”
• India-US Ties: From AI to Tariff Heat
Not long ago, India and the U.S. were paraded as “natural allies.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a past visit to Washington, famously used AI as shorthand for “America–India” ties.
“When acronyms turn from friendship to fracture, alliances reveal their fragility; Alexander wooed allies before conquest; Trump once embraced Modi, now presses India with tariffs.”
But the story has changed. Trump’s tariffs have hit India’s growth story hard. With 45% of its trade tied to the U.S., the rupee has depreciated, breaching ₹90 per dollar in 2025 and sliding further under pressure.
“Currencies bend where empires lean hardest.”
To counter this, Modi’s government has signed new deals:
• Australia: expanded sectoral pact worth billions
• New Zealand: $20 billion FDI commitment
• Oman: strategic free trade agreement
• UK: extended trade agreements
“Alliances are scaffolds; but scaffolds cannot hold when the empire shakes the foundation.”
• America’s Market Crown vs. India’s Fragile Share
The U.S. commands 70% of global market capitalization, while India holds just 4%. Corporate profits and cash flows overwhelmingly flow through America.
“When one market wears the crown, others wear the chains; Alexander’s empire dwarfed rivals; Trump’s America, with Microsoft alone, dwarfs India’s markets.”
Consider Microsoft: its profits compound at 17% annually, compared to India’s stock market at 5.5% in U.S. dollar terms.
• BRICS: The Rebel Alliance
BRICS nations- Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are now trading in local currencies instead of USD, accelerating efforts to reduce dependence on America
“Alexander faced rebellions from satraps; Trump faces BRICS minting their own coin in defiance.”
• The X Declaration: Powell as the modern Callisthenes.
On January 11, 2026, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell released a video message on X, confirming that he is under a criminal investigation by federal prosecutors. The probe relates to his testimony on renovation funds for the Fed’s headquarters, but Powell argued it was triggered by Trump’s frustration with the Fed’s refusal to lower interest rates.
Powell warned that the investigation threatens the independence of the Federal Reserve, a cornerstone of America’s financial credibility. His defiant tone echoed resistance to imperial overreach.
“As Callisthenes defied Alexander’s demand for divine obedience, Powell defies Trump’s demand for monetary submission.”
Conclusion:
Denied the Nobel Peace Prize, Trump 2.0 has embraced conquest instead of conciliation. His empire is not built on treaties but on tariffs, sanctions, and acquisitions.
“History repeats not in armour, but in suits… yet the ambition remains the same; Alexander wore armour, Trump wears a suit; but both march with the ambition of empire.”
Sources:
• Trump’s net worth and debt history: Forbes, Bloomberg
• U.S. global market cap share (~ 70%) vs. India (~ 4%): World Bank, IMF
• Microsoft vs. Indian stock market growth: Financial Times, Bloomberg
• India’s trade dependency on U.S. (~ 45%): Ministry of Commerce, Government of India
• India’s new trade deals (Australia, New Zealand, Oman, UK): Economic Times, Reuters
• U.S. uranium imports from Russia: U.S. Energy Information Administration
• Trump’s exits from global bodies (UNESCO, WHO, Paris Accord): UN archives, BBC
• Greenland size, Pituffik base, mineral/oil reserves: CIA World Factbook, U.S. DoD, Geological Survey reports
• U.S. debt ($37.6 trillion): Historical Debt Outstanding – U.S Treasury Fiscal Data as on Oct 2, 2025.
