by Irshad Ahmad
The arena shifted from WrestleMania IV and WrestleMania V to the presidency of the United States—a superpower where real forces clash like billiard balls on a table. When struck, these balls scatter, seeking refuge in pockets to avoid further collisions.
Donald Trump may not have been a real wrestler, but his tactics mirrored WWE theatrics: punching down at the weak while courting—and then undermining—the powerful. His ambition was clear: to become the richest and most powerful man on Earth, to “Make America Great Again” through obsolete protectionism, and to shield the nation with invisible drones, missiles, and preemptive strikes—much like Israel’s Iron Dome.
A new arms race has begun, not with swords or tanks, but with Golden Domes of electromagnetic waves and digital defenses to thwart invisible threats. Trump’s proposed $175 billion missile defense shield, overseen by a Space Force general, aimed to counter China and Russia. But will rivals follow suit? Yes. Will other nations join? Undoubtedly. History shows no kingdom was ever saved by such domes—only by peace, not escalation. Yet the world races toward ruin, led by might-makes-right logic.
Trump’s America was for the rich, the powerful, and the white—leaving no room for the vulnerable. The principles of democracy, equality, and justice were discarded like relics. His post-presidency reveals his priorities: bully the weak, weaken the strong. He embraced the law of the jungle—”survival of the fittest”—a creed for beasts, not humans. Humanity once aspired to higher laws: justice, equality, shared survival. But the 21st century has regressed into might-makes-right.
Today, survival demands muscle, not mercy. Observe Israel’s aggression, Russia’s invasions—global citizens protest, yet power brokers side with the aggressors. This reality undermines Rousseau’s ideal of the “General Will” as the foundation of democracy. When the strong dictate terms, whose will truly governs?
To spend $175 billion on constructing a “Golden Dome” defense system to protect against drones, missiles, and potential threats from Russia and China would greatly benefit the American arms industry. It would also fuel military advancements among its adversaries. Instead, this same $175 billion could be allocated to rebuild war-torn regions like Gaza, Ukraine, and impoverished African nations, transforming the exploitative “double triangle” of capitalism—where the rich grow richer—into a more equitable and humane economic model.
Unfortunately, the world remains dominated by a Machiavellian mentality that seeks to crush the poor underfoot while building a future exclusively for the wealthy.
About the Author:
Irshad Ahmad: Visiting Faculty, Department of Political Science, University of the Punjab, Lahore
