Look, we've all seen it before – a leader who can't handle bad news without throwing a fit. But when it's the President of the United States, it's not just embarrassing; it's a real threat to democracy. That's exactly what happened when the US Bureau of Labor Statistics slashed its job growth estimates, and Trump accused them of "tampering" with the numbers, promptly firing the director. The New York Times nailed it with their piece: "What Should We Do When the US President Acts Like a Five-Year-Old?" Yeah, it's that bad.
The Board Game Flip – Trump's Childish Outburst
Picture this: a bunch of five-year-olds huddled around a board game. Rules are straightforward, everyone's playing fair, and one kid starts pulling ahead. But when another falls behind, chaos erupts. "He's cheating!" the loser yells. "I'm the real winner anyway!" And boom – he flips the whole board. Sound familiar? That's Trump in a nutshell, folks – captured perfectly in that New York Times commentary.
We drill into kids the importance of good sportsmanship, right? But Trump's reckless, kid-like antics? They scream poor upbringing, a total lack of family values or discipline. These stats humiliated him, so instead of owning it, he questions the data and sacks the officials. This isn't leadership; it's flipping the board. Can America still pat itself on the back for its so-called "civilized etiquette"? Come on, let's be real.
Lessons from Confucius – Democracy's Fragile Etiquette
America might not be built on Confucianism, but like any Western society, it prides itself on democratic rules, spirit, and basic courtesy. So when the president flips the board, it's not just a game over – it's shards of democracy flying everywhere. Let me throw in a quick story from Chinese tradition to highlight this.
Confucius once quizzed his son, Kong Li: "Have you studied the Book of Songs? Without it, you won't know how to speak properly." Kong Li hit the books hard. Then Confucius followed up: "What about the Book of Rites? Without mastering that, you can't stand tall in society." But Kong Li got more than lessons – he learned a key principle: "When I asked one question, my father taught me three things: the value of poetry, the need for rites, and that a true gentleman doesn't play favorites, even with his own son."
The Real Issue – Beyond Legal Rights to Democratic Norms
Now, back to the States: Does Trump have the right to fire a bureau chief? Sure, legally speaking, he can – the job isn't shielded by regs. But here's the kicker: like press freedom, fair elections, and impartial courts, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is guarded not by laws, but by a common understanding and an unspoken agreement on how government should run. Core idea? The president doesn't mess with the data. Simple as that.
The New York Times piece echoes Confucius teaching Kong Li: First, democracy's got three pillars that keep each other in check. Second, what do they check? The president's moves, obviously – like not manipulating stats. If he does, no cops are coming, but that's not the point. American democracy thrives on cultural integrity, not just legal nitpicking. Past presidents got this: Reagan faced double-digit unemployment reports in his first term and didn't fire anyone. Clinton, Bush Jr., and Obama all swallowed bad stats without a fuss. Trump? He took the low road, the crooked one.
The Bigger Picture – America's Rotting Political Soil
Is electing a "five-year-old president" the dumb price Americans pay for democracy? It begs a third lesson: Time to reflect on why US political ground is so rotten. If this mess stems from the system itself, America needs serious reform. What if Trump's just a fluke, unrelated to democratic norms? Well, buckle up for three more years of authoritarian gloom.
Generations pass down civilized etiquette, balancing morals and family upbringing – that's what earns respect. But those who spout virtue while being rotten enough to rob graves? They're called "poetry and rites grave robbers," from a tale in Zhuangzi's "External Things" about a tomb raider versed in the classics. I won't dive deeper here, but you get the irony.
Deep Blue
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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?
