Trump's 100 days pushes the world toward instability, economic decline and diplomatic crisis

It has been 100 days since convicted felon was sworn in for a second term - and the state of the is crumbling under the weight of chaos and incompetence.

Allies are reeling. Adversaries are emboldened. The rules-based global order America once helped build is fracturing before the eyes of the world. Trump has plunged the US into an economic tailspin, slapping reckless tariffs on friends and foes and triggering a global trade war. Trillions have been wiped from global stock markets. Inflation is rising sharply on both sides of the Atlantic.

Meanwhile, the US leader has gutted American diplomacy, disparaged allies, cosied up to autocrats, floated wild ambitions to annexe Greenland, and even suggested Canada should become the 51st state. American credibility abroad is in freefall, with Europe and Asia already beginning to pull back from an increasingly erratic Washington. Back in the US, Trump's threats to democratic institutions - from courts to universities - are alarming America's closest partners.

His hardline mass deportations, including transfers to notorious foreign prisons, have drawn fierce international condemnation. Veteran diplomats are warning that the damage may be irreversible. Once a cornerstone of global stability, America under Trump is now viewed as a destabilising force - unpredictable, self-interested, and dangerously unmoored. The world is watching, bracing for the aftershocks of a US presidency spinning out of control. Here, we take a look at Trump's global crisis as America turns inward and unhinged.

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Trump's job performance

Donald Trump's second presidency has been a whirlwind of chaos, incompetence, and self-interest. Within his first 100 days, his approval ratings have sunk to historic lows, worse than during his scandal-ridden first term. Governing by vendetta rather than vision, Trump has gutted federal agencies, fired more than 280,000 civil servants, and relied on sycophants rather than specialists. His administration's policy failures, from incompetent immigration crackdowns to fears, are staggering. According to the Institute for Policy Integrity, Trump's administration has lost 93 per cent of its legal challenges - an unprecedented record of failure. His governance style remains impulsive and fuelled by grievance, with reckless executive orders and sweeping power grabs that bypass the check and balances brought about by Congress. The courts have temporarily halted some of his most extreme measures, but the damage to the civil service, public trust, and America's international standing is mounting daily.

Tariffs

Trump's decision to unleash a global tariff war has backfired catastrophically. In a bid to strong-arm allies and adversaries alike, he has imposed sweeping levies on goods from Europe, Asia, and Africa, triggering tit-for-tat responses that have battered global trade. The US economy - and, by extension, the world's - has suffered trillions in losses as markets baulk from the uncertainty and instability. Key industries like manufacturing and agriculture have been devastated. Consumers are facing rising costs on everything from electronics to groceries. Global supply chains are buckling under the strain. China's refusal to engage in Trump's "negotiations" has further isolated the US, and now even traditional allies like Germany and Japan are seeking new trade partnerships that deliberately bypass Washington. Economists warn that Trump's tariff mania could tip the global economy into a deep recession, the consequences of which could last long after he leaves office.

Ending DEI policies

Trump has unleashed a sweeping assault on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the federal government, triggering a cultural purge that has stunned civil rights groups and rattled America's allies abroad. Through executive orders, Trump banned DEI policies at federal agencies, contractors, and grant recipients, leading to mass firings of compliance officers, civil rights specialists, and diversity advocates. Programs aimed at addressing racial and gender disparities have been systematically dismantled, replaced by a workforce increasingly shaped by loyalty to Trump's political ideology rather than merit or inclusivity. In a stunning moment of scapegoating, Trump even blamed DEI policies for a tragic plane and helicopter collision over Washington D.C., falsely claiming that "wokeness" had eroded competence in aviation safety. Aviation experts and investigators quickly debunked his assertions, but the damage was done - further inflaming public distrust and fuelling conspiracy theories.

Foreign policy

Greenland and Canada - Trump's foreign policy has lurched from incoherent to absurd in record time. In just 100 days, he has re-floated his bizarre ambitions to purchase Greenland, despite fierce opposition from Denmark, and has seriously suggested that Canada could be "annexed" as America's 51st state. These statements - dismissed as jokes by some but repeated seriously by Trump - have infuriated leaders in Ottawa and Copenhagen, severely damaging America's relations with two of its closest allies. Canada has moved to strengthen its economic ties with Europe and Asia in response, hedging against an increasingly hostile US Meanwhile, European diplomats warn that Trump's willingness to blur the lines of sovereignty and self-determination is sending dangerous signals to other world leaders. The notion that the US could forcibly redraw borders is destabilising in a world already grappling with war and occupation, and undermines decades of American foreign policy based on respect for national sovereignty.

DOGE and Elon Musk

Trump's economic mismanagement has reached new heights with his partnership with and the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This chaotic initiative has backfired spectacularly. Musk, who was handed the department's reins to "reimagine" government, has turned out to be a charlatan, executing sweeping job cuts and slashing vital departments while basking in billions of dollars in US government subsidies for his own companies. Under Musk's leadership, DOGE has rapidly gutted more than 280,000 federal jobs, targeting key agencies like and the Department of Education, which provide vital services ranging from international aid to educational equity. Musk's claim to streamline government is nothing more than a reckless firing spree that has hollowed out the federal bureaucracy, leaving crucial functions like disaster relief and humanitarian aid in tatters.

The Special Relationship

Under Donald Trump's second term, the once-unshakable "" between the States and the UK has entered turbulent waters. He has shown little hesitation in slapping steep tariffs on British goods, from steel and cars to agricultural products, as part of his escalating global trade war. Yet amid the wreckage remains a complicated glimmer of opportunity for Britain. Trump's affection for the UK runs deep. He often boasts of his Scottish ancestry, and with a second State to Britain pending, he is visibly moved by the pageantry and flattery lavished upon him. Sources say Trump still views Britain as a prestigious ally - a nation whose respect he craves. Senior British diplomats are quietly exploring ways to leverage Trump's vanity to carve out specific economic and diplomatic benefits, even as broader relations fray. By appealing directly to his love for Britain's historic grandeur - and his desire to be seen as a global statesman - the UK may yet extract concessions, such as limited tariff exemptions or favourable trade terms.

Ending the Ukraine War

Trump promised during his campaign to end the war "within 24 hours." One hundred days in, he has instead thrown peace efforts into chaos. He abruptly pulled US backing from Ukraine's defence initiatives, demanding Kyiv negotiate with Moscow on Russia's terms. His actions emboldened , who escalated attacks, seizing additional Ukrainian territory. Trump's interference torpedoed ongoing EU and NATO-led peace negotiations. Ukrainian officials, left out to dry, now face battlefield losses and dwindling international support. European leaders are furious, warning that Trump's recklessness could prolong the conflict for years. His betrayal of Ukraine has shattered faith in US security guarantees across Europe and emboldened authoritarian regimes worldwide. Trump's failed "peace deal" is seen not just as naive but as a historic surrender of American leadership and democratic values.

Gaza and the Middle East

Trump's re-entry into Middle Eastern affairs has been a disaster of biblical proportions, magnifying instability in one of the world's most volatile regions. His administration's policies have exacerbated tensions, triggering violence and deepening humanitarian crises. Trump's slashing of humanitarian aid to Gaza, coupled with his one-sided support for hardline policies, has inflamed conflict, particularly in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and . His administration has blocked international ceasefire efforts at the United Nations, making diplomatic solutions even more elusive. The consequences of Trump's recklessness are catastrophic: civilian casualties are soaring, and analysts fear that his policies could spark a full-scale war across the Middle East involving multiple states. The region, already fraught with tension, is now teetering on the brink of even greater conflict. Adding insult to injury, Trump has proposed turning Gaza into a tawdry, glitzy Trump resort - a proposal so out of touch with the region's realities that it has been met with outrage from all sides. The idea of transforming Gaza, a war-torn area with a desperate humanitarian crisis, into a luxury resort for the wealthy exemplifies Trump's disregard for human suffering and geopolitical consequences.

US tourism

America’s economic pain is being felt sharply in the tourism sector, once a vital source of income. Analysts project that Trump's erratic policies, anti-immigrant fear-mongering, and spiralling diplomatic feuds could cost the US tourism industry an estimated £68 billion in lost revenue over the coming years. Travel from Europe, Asia, and Latin America has already begun to decline sharply, as visitors increasingly view America as hostile, unpredictable, and unsafe. Airlines, hotels, and tourism-dependent cities like New York, Orlando, and Las Vegas are bracing for a downturn that some insiders warn could rival the post-9/11 travel collapse.