U.S. historian Robert Kagan is sounding the alarm about where America is heading.
In an interview with Der Spiegel, he gave a warning that feels urgent and serious. “We are watching, at home, an entire country falling under dictatorship almost without resistance,” Kagan said.
That is not a small claim.
He argued that many Americans still do not see the full picture. “Some like what they’re seeing, others are in denial about what’s happening, still others think it won’t be that bad,” he explained. “It’s crazy.”
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In his view, the danger is not only political. It is also about how people are reacting or not reacting.
When asked directly whether Donald Trump is a dictator, Kagan answered clearly. “He’s certainly a would-be dictator, and the United States certainly has one foot in dictatorship. Pretty far in, actually.”
Kagan also warned that the global situation could become more dangerous than many expect. In a recent essay, he wrote that Americans are entering “the most dangerous world they have known since World War II,” one that could “make the Cold War look like child’s play.”.
According to Kagan, the system created after 1945, in which the United States acted as a key security power, is breaking down. If America steps back from that role, other powerful countries will step forward. That shift, he believes, could leave smaller nations exposed.
Speaking about Europe, Kagan said countries there may have to rebuild their military strength. “If the United States is no longer guaranteeing security,” he explained, they must either accept pressure from bigger powers or protect themselves. He called Germany “the most important bastion of liberalism in the world.” At the same time, he reminded readers that Europe’s past shows how unstable things can become when power balances change.
Kagan also made a bold claim about Trump’s goals.
“Trump wants to be world emperor,” he said.
He added, “I understand that it’s hard for Europeans to see the United States as the enemy after 80 years. But as long as Trump is in power, it is.”
Those comments leave little room for doubt about how he sees the situation.
When asked about upcoming U.S. elections, Kagan did not sound confident. “Do you seriously believe Trump will allow the House of Representatives to become Democratic? No way!” he said.
That reflects his concern that democratic rules may not hold.
Still, Kagan says he is not leaving the country. “No. I will never leave,” he stated. “I understand what can happen. And if that’s what happens, that’s what happens.” He admitted he has gone through “periods of deep depression,” but he also said the spirit behind America’s founding ideals cannot disappear overnight.
Even so, he is clearly disappointed.
“It is infinitely disappointing to me that Americans have given up their democracy so easily,” he said.
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
