A petty-bourgeois movement serving the imperialist bourgeoisie, Trump has betrayed his base: $40 trillion debt, spiraling energy prices, and a self-inflicted Iran quagmire.
The disastrous policies during Donald Trump’s current term have intensified systemic crises within global capitalism. Known for his critique of the American political order, commitment to “America First,” and overt opposition to dominant imperialist interests, Trump gained wide support—not only from conservative small business owners but also from many workers, including some with traditionally leftist leanings.
Nevertheless, Trump has never successfully implemented these ideals. Concrete realities exert a force so strong that individual plans often falter or fail entirely.
Throughout his presidency, he fluctuates between decisions shaped by his views and actions that directly contradict his earlier rhetoric, unable to break free from the control exerted by those who dominate the U.S. political system.
This contradiction stems fundamentally from the class nature of Trumpism. It represents a classic petty-bourgeois movement. In the U.S. context, segments of the bourgeoisie severely impacted by neoliberalism—and thus by the unfair dominance of global corporations—are also part of this petty-bourgeois dynamic. This class is caught between the irreconcilable conflict of workers and the imperialist capitalist elite, lacking any genuine autonomy and aligning with whichever faction appears stronger in overcoming the opposition.
The Trump administration must be understood through these class struggles. Lacking independence, Trumpism submits to pressures from opposing sides. When these conflicts intensify beyond a certain point, the movement is bound to fragment.
Signs of this breakup are already visible. Trump’s supporters are increasingly fractured. By siding more with the interests of imperialism, Trump appeals to a wealthier, more influential subset of his followers. Yet this group remains a minority compared to the broad base including small entrepreneurs, freelancers, farmers, urban laborers, and the unemployed. In safeguarding the imperialist bourgeoisie’s profits, Trump simultaneously undermines other constituencies within his movement.
Rather than restoring economic growth that might lower unemployment, revive manufacturing, and boost wages, Trump’s compliance with the big business agenda only deepens the U.S. economic crisis. The national debt has soared to an unprecedented $40 trillion. Meanwhile, the energy crunch worsens, with gasoline prices climbing sharply and diesel nearing record highs.
This partly results from America’s war against Iran—a move perceived by Trump voters as a betrayal of his anti-interventionist promises. Even the seizure of Venezuelan oil—achieved through bombings and the abduction of a president—failed to satisfy growing frustration among segments of the MAGA movement and did little to stabilize the U.S. oil market.
The conflict with Iran has become a self-imposed setback. Trump assumed he could quickly resolve tensions but instead found himself entangled in a costly quagmire. The repercussions reach beyond economics, damaging the imperialist war apparatus and weakening U.S. dominance in the Middle East. By yielding to Israeli demands—which represent imperialism’s effort to safeguard its key ally, a strategic bastion controlling trade routes and regional wealth—Trump effectively destroyed whatever remained of his “nationalist” image.
Political figures and commentators critical of Trump’s ambiguous stance on the Ukraine war viewed the Iran attack to defend Israel as a critical breaking point. Tucker Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Charlie Kirk should be seen not only as vocal figures on the fringes of dissent but as leading voices in a widespread rebellion against the trajectory of Trumpism. Their perspectives reflect the sentiments of millions of disillusioned Americans. Even more moderate critics within the movement, such as Thomas Massie and Rand Paul, indicate the breadth of grassroots dissatisfaction with Trumpist leadership.
American public opinion about Israel has shifted markedly since the onset of the Gaza genocide. There is an unprecedented level of opposition to Zionism coupled with growing sympathy for Palestine. The Biden administration’s complicity in this violence contributed significantly to Kamala Harris’s electoral defeat, as she was perceived as an extension of Biden’s policies. A January 2025 poll found nearly a third of Biden’s 2020 voters unwilling to support Harris in 2024 due to her stance on Israel. Although unmeasured, some Democrats likely voted for Trump as a protest, hoping he would govern differently. This is evident as prominent Democratic critics of the Deep State and imperialism, like Robert Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, joined the Trump administration. Gabbard, disenchanted with Trump’s foreign policies, was marginalized within his team, while Kennedy has avoided major clashes by focusing on mostly domestic issues.
Among core Trump supporters, hostility to Israel and support for Palestine are gaining strength. The Gaza war—and the Iran conflict linked to it—stands as one of the most significant geopolitical events of recent decades, marking a turning point in both global and national politics. This shift signals broader transformations within the capitalist regime’s grip on power. What occurs at the top is increasingly resonating at the grassroots.
In summary, a considerable segment of the American populace is shifting leftward, embracing a direct challenge to capitalist power structures and moving toward an autonomous political stance rooted in the historic struggles of workers. This trend cuts across traditional party lines, finding its strongest expression among Trump’s followers, who tend to reject identity politics and disillusioned faith in imperial democracy and its decaying political institutions.
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