America’s leadership that is guided by outbursts undermines allies, global stability, and its own institutions.
Another week, another American attack on an ally – this time, Poland, a steadfast friend.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski found himself the target of US President Donald Trump’s “efficiency czar” Elon Musk and Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio in a heated social media exchange over Starlink’s satellite coverage for Ukraine, a service crucial to its war effort against Russian aggression.
Sikorski’s offense? Reminding Musk that Poland is paying $50 million annually for the service after Musk hinted he could shut it off.
“Be quiet, small man,” Musk shot back, dismissing Poland’s contribution as “a small fraction of the cost” and insisting “there is no substitute for Starlink.” Rubio joined in, accusing Sikorski of “making things up.”
“No one has made any threats about cutting Ukraine off from Starlink,” Rubio claimed, before adding, “And say thank you, because without Starlink, Ukraine would have lost this war long ago, and Russians would be on the border with Poland right now.”
A similar scene played out just over a week earlier in the Oval Office, when Trump and Vice President JD Vance ganged up on Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, demanding he show more gratitude – despite the Ukrainian president having thanked the American people nearly 100 times in public speeches since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
The Oval Office scolding of Zelensky inspired a flood of baby-head Vance memes, mocking the vice president’s insistence that the Ukrainian leader says “pwease and tank u.”
This is where America stands: grown men in power acting like children, policy dictated by temper tantrums. The consequences reach beyond foreign relations and the world order built on the rule of law.
As Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) pushes forward with downsizing the federal workforce, it leaves the country’s cyber defenses increasingly vulnerable. A Cybernews research team found that 75% of US government departments and agency websites had suffered data breaches, with over half “failing the cybersecurity exam.”
Musk reportedly clashed with Rubio last week in another White House meeting over cost-cutting measures. Trump ultimately sided with Rubio, reminding cabinet members that they were in charge of their own departments and that Musk had no authority to fire government employees.
If true, it capped a bad week for Musk, following the fiery explosion of another Starship rocket and plummeting Tesla sales, particularly in Europe, where the brand has become increasingly toxic due to US politics.
The radicalization of political leadership is shifting the boundaries of what the public considers acceptable forms of protest. This is evident in the ongoing idolization of Luigi Mangione, the suspected killer of UnitedHealthcare’s chief executive Brian Thompson.
At the same time, the rise of the “manosphere” in the highest levels of power is affecting how women and minorities are treated – both online and in real life. A group of female Twitch celebrities recently reported being chased by a “predatory” male fan threatening to kill them, while another influencer was robbed at gunpoint that same night.
Major US companies are rolling back their diversity and equity programs. Meta’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, went as far as saying corporate culture needed more “masculine energy.” Yet, the tech industry remains overwhelmingly male-dominated. While more women are entering the field, they still earn less and hold just 14% of leadership positions, with gender parity estimated to be “over a century away.”
Even in the relatively “safe” tech sector, women are not shielded from workplace harassment.
“I would put it very simply: You have to walk into a room where, out of 100 people, 95 are men. Do you feel safe? They might not be doing anything, but the situation is already uncomfortable. Or imagine a company party, which will most likely be tailored to a male audience,” equality advocate Žydrūnė Vitaitė told Cybernews.
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