The devastating earthquake in Myanmar is just the latest example of how Donald Trump’s reckless policies and narcissistic leadership have left suffering people in dire straits. His administration’s decision to dismantle the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has crippled America’s ability to respond to crises, leaving disaster-stricken regions like Myanmar to fend for themselves.
This is not an isolated case. Trump has a long track record of making empty promises in the wake of catastrophes. In 2017, after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, he assured swift and effective aid, only for his administration to delay assistance and divert emergency funds elsewhere. He infamously downplayed the death toll and tossed paper towels to desperate survivors in a display of breathtaking callousness. Similarly, his administration’s response to the California wildfires was marked by blame and threats to withhold federal funding rather than tangible support.
Now, his failures are on full display again in Myanmar. Previously, American aid accounted for 40% of global developmental assistance. But with USAID gutted and key personnel dismissed, the world is witnessing the real-world consequences of Trump’s incompetence and indifference.
Yesterday, Trump made yet another empty promise to send aid to Myanmar. In reality, his administration had already fired the experts responsible for delivering such assistance and dismantled the very systems required to provide it.
Ironically, the last of USAID’s staff were dismissed on the same day that Trump boasted of his administration’s commitment to disaster relief.
The disaster is so severe that General Min Aung Hlaing, who seized power in a coup four years ago, has been forced to abandon his government’s usual isolationist stance and appeal for international aid. However, due to Trump’s reckless dismantling of USAID, Myanmar remains largely inaccessible to the very assistance it desperately needs.
Myanmar is a deeply superstitious nation, where its military rulers have long consulted astrologers and relied on talismans—including white elephants—to maintain their grip on power.
Historically, earthquakes in Myanmar are believed to signal political upheaval. If this disaster accelerates the junta’s downfall, it will be an ironic twist in a crisis worsened by Trump’s negligent policies.
Despite its military’s continued access to advanced weaponry supplied by China, the regime is losing legitimacy and ground. Meanwhile, opposition forces are growing stronger, utilising drones and other innovative tactics to sustain their momentum.
From Puerto Rico to Myanmar, Trump’s false promises and narcissistic leadership have repeatedly exacerbated crises rather than alleviating them. His reckless mismanagement has left disaster victims abandoned, with his callous indifference forcing people to pay the ultimate price for his incompetence.
