The Paradox of MAGA: How Trump May Be Accelerating America's Decline
By Sedat Laçiner "Make America Great Again" is Donald Trump 's most frequently repeated slogan—one that has effectively become his political motto. Most people assume that by invoking "MAGA," Trump is celebrating America's greatness. In reality, however, the slogan is built on the assumption—and indeed the assertion—that the United States is no longer a great power. The key lies in a single word: "again." If a country must be made great again, it implies that it has lost the greatness it once possessed. By championing MAGA , Trump is effectively arguing that America has ceased to be "great" and that he alone can restore its former status. Put differently, Trump's message is: "America used to be great. It isn't anymore. I will make it great again." Previous American presidents openly acknowledged that the country faced serious challenges. When Barack Obama declared, "Yes We Can," he was referring to those very ...