Idiots’ paradise

Some U.S. presidents are hailed as visionaries, others as reasonably competent. Some are mocked for lacking personal qualities or competence. I recall an old jab at Gerald Ford, who supposedly couldn’t walk and chew gum at the same time.

But Ford, for all his stumbles, didn’t wreak havoc. A small army of advisors – call them the “Deep State” – ensured he said and did the right things. They were the guardrails for a nation too powerful to risk a president’s misstep.

Now, as the USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy and the largest warship ever built, steams toward the Middle East amid tensions with Iran, I’m not so sure those guardrails still hold.

Under President Donald Trump’s second term, the U.S. seems to have abandoned reliance on seasoned advisors who prioritise American interests and global stability. The gatekeepers of the world’s most powerful democracy – still an inspiration to many nations – are just absent.

Trump’s first term was chaotic but restrained by advisors like John Kelly and H.R. McMaster, who tempered his impulses. His second term, however, shows a president unbound, surrounded by loyalists rather than experts. For example, Trump’s recent musings on joining Israel in strikes against Iran – despite his “America First” promise to avoid foreign wars – suggest a lack oficoherent counsel.

Similarly, his abrupt tariff threats against Canada and Mexico in 2024, which rattled markets and allies, lacked the strategic input that once guided U.S. economic policy. These moves reflect a president acting on whim, not wisdom.

The absence of steady hands is stark when contrasted with past administrations. Ford’s team ensured his gaffes didn’t derail U.S. policy. Even George W. Bush, criticized for Iraq, leaned on advisors like Colin Powell to navigate crises. Trump, however, seems to shun such expertise, favouring loyalty over competence. His decision to deploy B-52 bombers and naval assets near Iran, as reported by Reuters, risks escalating a conflict without clear strategy, echoing the reckless interventionism he once decried.

As someone sceptical of Trump’s intellectual capacity, I find this terrifying. A president unchecked, in a world teetering on the edge of conflict, is a recipe for disaster. The USS Gerald R. Ford may sail toward war, but without advisors to steer the ship of state, America risks drifting into an idiots’ paradise – where one man’s impulses could capsize the nation’s interests.

As the allure of reckless leadership spreads, spawning countless would-be Trumps to helm nations worldwide, it’s no wonder Elon Musk dreams of escaping to Mars – where, with his means, he just might.

Caption: The US Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford in Piraeus, Greece 30 July 2023. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest warship in the world, is deployed to deployed to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe (NAVEUR) area of operations. [EPA/GEORGE VITSARAS]

Updated: June 19, 2025 - 11:17