In the world's supposedly richest nation, 12% of adult households can't get enough food, and a staggering 20% of families with children simply can't afford to feed their kids properly. That's not some dystopian fiction – that's the United States of America in 2025, folks.
The situation has only gotten worse over recent years, with Axios reporting that more and more adults are going hungry. But it's not just about the raw numbers anymore. The pessimistic mood hanging over the country is dragging down American morale like a lead balloon. Trump's latest "big and beautiful" legislation might sound impressive, but food bank communities are sounding the alarm bells. The bill essentially throws the burden onto cash-strapped states while the federal government tightens its purse strings on food assistance.
The White House's response: pure callousness wrapped in political spin. They're peddling the tired old line that cutting food aid will somehow "encourage more people to enter the labour market" and reduce dependency. It's the kind of bootstrap rhetoric that sounds great in campaign speeches but ignores the harsh reality that over 42 million Americans including low-income households, low-income elderly, the handicapped and the under-privileged needed help from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program just this past March.
The Dollar's Last Stand
Ironically, America can still print a hundred-dollar bill for just 6 cents – talk about a neat trick to keep the title “wealthiest country in the world”! Remember Obama's West Point speech back in 2014? "America Must Always Lead," he declared, followed by "If we don't, no one else will." Classic American exceptionalism right there. Obama was essentially laying down the gauntlet: America's military might backs up the dollar, and anyone who wants to challenge that system better think twice.
But does Trump have that same steely determination today? You've got to wonder if the White House team is scrambling to figure out how to deal with China's rare earth export controls first. They probably need Beijing to play nice – like Wong Tai Sin, that responsive deity from Chinese folklore – before they can confidently shout those "Make America Great Again" slogans.
China's Manufacturing Masterstroke
Over the past decade, China has pulled off something absolutely remarkable – it's become what you might call a "hexagonal" great power. Traditional measures of national strength usually cover five areas: politics, culture, technology, finance, and resources. America had all these boxes ticked and became the world's first superpower. But there was always that one glaring weakness – industrial manufacturing.
America's grand strategy was to evolve into a financial virtual economy. Starting in the mid-1970s, they shipped production overseas, using finance and technology to control the top end of manufacturing while the military-industrial complex provided the muscle. Soft power became their "master key" to unlock global markets. Before 2000, global manufacturing basically danced to America's tune.
Then China joined the WTO in 2001 and everything changed. By 2010, China had overtaken the United States as the world's largest manufacturing nation. By 2018, China's industrial added value hit 30 trillion yuan, making it the world's largest industrial economy with a complete, independent modern industrial system covering every category you can think of. China had effectively added that crucial sixth side – manufacturing – to become a truly "hexagonal" great power.
America's decline isn't just about economics or military capability – it's about the hollowing out of the very foundations that made it a superpower in the first place. When your own people are going hungry while you're busy playing global policeman, perhaps it's time to reassess priorities.
Deep Blue
** The blog article is the sole responsibility of the author and does not represent the position of our company. **
At the beginning of the new year, Donald Trump has single-handedly changed the United States, and the global landscape may also be reshaped. First, he declared that as Commander-in-Chief, the President’s authority is limited only by his own morality. Later, he posted an image on his social platform Truth Social with the caption “Acting President of Venezuela”. The New York Times directly questioned: “Does this mean ignoring international law and acting without any constraints to invade other countries?” Regarding international law, Trump stated, “I abide by it,” but made it clear that when such constraints apply to the United States, he would be the ultimate arbiter.
On January 7, 2026, the President signed a presidential memorandum ordering the United States to withdraw from 66 international organizations, including 31 United Nations entities and multiple major international agreements. This action is aimed at exiting organizations deemed by the White House to be “contrary to U.S. interests” and a waste of taxpayer funds. The UN bodies to be withdrawn from include UN Women, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the International Law Commission.
Clearly, Trump has a unique blueprint that serves only American interests. He might retort: “What era is this, still talking about international law and core values? Don’t you know the current state of the U.S.? Don’t you know that the U.S. has long been planning drastic actions?”
In April 2020, retired U.S. Marine Corps officer Mark Cancian proposed a bold strategy. The National Interest reported: “With a coastline of 9,000 miles and the world’s second-largest merchant fleet after Greece, including Hong Kong, China has over 4,000 ships. This is not an advantage but a vulnerability. The U.S. could effectively blockade China’s economy by launching a clever campaign, leaving it exhausted.” The suggestion was for the U.S. to emulate 16th-century Britain by supporting privateers—civilian organizations specialized in plundering Chinese merchant ships. Given China’s current military capabilities, it should be able to meet such challenges, so there’s no need to worry. Still, one can’t help but applaud the audacity of such an idea.
Back then, Biden paid no attention to this plan, as the Democrats were still refined and attached great importance to the cloak of universal values. At the same time, Biden, at least nominally, had to pay lip service to the United Nations, because ideology mattered. The U.S. had previously displayed a magical logic: attacking you to save your people, destroying your country to introduce democracy and freedom, imposing sanctions because you’re a dictatorship... Trump cannot be like ordinary advocates of universal values, who always cite international law and classical references. First, neither he nor his team possess such knowledge. Second, pretending to uphold morality can no longer maximize American interests. Third, former adversaries have “risen,” gradually establishing international moral authority. If the U.S. continues to preach benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness, it will only become a laughingstock. After all, Trump has already discarded America’s credibility like trash.
Retired officer Cancian’s plan is exactly the White House’s cup of tea. For context—in the 16th century, Britain supported privateers, civilian organizations that plundered rival nations’ merchant ships. This was essentially the legalization of piracy, with the British monarch issuing “letters of marque” to recruit outlaws for royal service, dubbing them “royal pirates.” These privateers helped Britain destroy the then-dominant Spain at sea, significantly boosting British power and laying the foundation for the Industrial Revolution.
In reality, Trump has already begun “highway robbery” operations, seizing multiple cargo ships in the Caribbean. The White House has also dropped the pretense. Foreign media reported that Deputy Chief of Staff Miller recently declared: “The only permissible maritime energy transportation must comply with U.S. law and national security.” This is no different from robbery—“This mountain is my domain, these trees are my planting; if you wish to pass, leave your toll.” The only difference is that the U.S. is not just a bandit but a pirate. Similarly, Trump and Cheng Yaojin from the Dramatized History of Sui and Tang Dynasties share the title of “Chaos Demon King.”
Next, following the “Trump Gold Card,” Trump could publicly issue “letters of marque,” auctioning them to the highest bidder, and even list them on Wall Street. Their valuation might surpass that of the “Seven Sisters” oil companies—who knows?
