The Era of Wannabe Kings Begins

“Long live the King,’ posted President Donald J. Trump on Truth Social this week.  

The era of wannabe kings has begun. The quest to expand kingdoms and territories has intensified from the likes of Trump in the United States, Vladimir Putin in Russia, Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel, and Xi Jinping in China.

As I have previously written, colonialism is back. While many argue the latest effort is more akin to neocolonialism, the rhetoric of the last month alludes to a more classical understanding of colonialism. Instead of extending influence indirectly, the United States, Russia, Israel and China are talking and acting in ways that perpetuate direct control over these countries and territories.

Trump’s desire to annex Greenland, Canada and the Panama Canal is based on American exceptionalism rooted in the Doctrine of Discovery and Manifest Destiny. In his second term, Trump looks to solidify his legacy through land expansion and authoritarian economics.

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine was supposed to be swift and decisive, demonstrating Russia’s return to European dominance. Dreaming of the reemergence of the old Russian Empire, Putin wants to extend his power and influence into European countries and the rest of the Western world. The U.S. president seemed to side with Putin this week, as negotiations to end the war were conducted without Ukraine’s presence.

Netanyahu never liked a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. Instead, he favors exiling Palestinians to another Arab country.

Once Palestinians are displaced from their homes, Israel will assume control of Gaza and the West Bank. After Hamas’ heinous attacks on Israel, Netanyahu seized on the opportunity to enact his dream of land expansion and an increase in Jewish settlements.

While Xi Jinping of China has yet to act, his desire to control Taiwan is immense. The United States, Russia and Israel are openly discussing extending their borders, and some international experts believe their actions will embolden China.

China has long felt that Taiwan should be under its control. Might the latest irresponsible rhetoric and policies from other countries open the door for China to invade Taiwan? Only time will tell.

Former British Prime Minister John Major remarked, “There’s no doubt in my mind that democracy is threatened. It’s been in modest decline for the last 18 years. There’s an ugly nationalism growing mostly from the intolerant right.”

Major was responding to a recent speech by United States Vice President J.D. Vance at the 2025 Munich Security Conference. In his remarks, Vance encouraged Europeans to accept far-right parties across the country that share the same convictions as Donald Trump and his supporters.

Europeans were horrified to hear these remarks from one of their significant post-World War II allies. Vance sounded more like European “appeasers” before the war.

In 1938, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain (1937–1940) attempted to thwart war with Germany by talking with German Chancellor Adolf Hitler. That year, Chamberlain signed the Munich Agreement, stating, “My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honor. I believe it is the peace for our time.”  One year later, Germany invaded Poland, sparking World War II.

Responding to Donald Trump’s tariffs imposed on her country, Chrystia Freeland, a Canadian MP, former deputy prime minister, and candidate for leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, said: “You may be tempted to dismiss our clash as a far away contretemps, best settled among neighbors. That would be a grave mistake and one Mr Trump is hoping you will make. After all, if he can successfully coerce us into submission, it will be that much easier for him to move on to other targets. But the contrary is also true. If Canada can insist that America not tear up current arrangements but instead keeps a win-win relationship going, then the rest of the world will be far safer in the future.”

Did you catch PM Freelend’s warning? She is warning the world about potential aggression from the United States of America.

Democracies around the world are starting to worry about American aggression toward their countries. America is becoming a threat to democracy, no longer its most avid defender.

In his epic novel “1984,” George Orwell penned, “One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship.” Orwell’s prophecy is emerging around the world.

What authoritarians and populists call “revolution” obscures reality. Chaos disguised as revolution is a smokescreen to hide the actual mission—total control. Total control follows total fidelity, both tools of kings.

In this emerging era of wannabe kings, an alternative imagination must ignite. People of good faith need to help our neighbors dream of a world filled with freedom, equality, compassion, inclusion, love, kindness, mercy, grace and hope.

The world does not need another king. Instead, more than anything, we need more voices calling for justice and democracy. We need more brave souls standing up to bullish monarchs. We need more people stepping forward to turn their convictions into action.

We can strive for a better tomorrow, but people of good faith and intention must speak with one courageous voice, willing to stand against injustice and expose corruption.

The world can be a better place for everyone, but we need more voices. We need your voice.  

It only takes one voice to silence a king, a united voice composed of millions singing one song—the song of the people.