Democrats have accused Trump and his Administration of federal tyranny and an abuse of power over the feud in Los Angeles. Former vice-president Kamala Harris called the national guard deployment, to break up immigration protests, “a dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos” and part of a “cruel, calculated agenda to spread panic”.

11 June 2025

ALAN HAYES

 

ONE of Donald Trump’s consistent traits as US president has been his forceful utilisation of the so-called madman theory, particularly in foreign policy. But is his erratic and perceived dangerous behaviour just a game, borne out of the Nixon era?

 

During the Nixon administration, the strategy was to convince potential adversaries that the man with his finger on the nuclear trigger has zero compunctions about pressing it — or about taking other dangerous steps that rational actors would never seriously consider. The possibility that the most powerful military in the history of the world may be in the hands of a homicidal maniac gave said maniac enormous leverage in situations involving international conflict. And that same ever-constant threat of incredibly lethal violence fits in perfectly with Trump’s own megalomaniacal  personality – prepared to wreak ‘holy hell’ on friend or foe.

 

The blend of Trump’s chaos, malice, and terror on his own federal government, yet alone the rest of the world, in the pursuit of the MAGA dream – liberation day as he called it – goes beyond the hitherto madman theory of the cold war era, but is instead far more sinister. The unprecedented and continual assault of executive orders underpins the true nature of a deranged madman.

 

The inanest stratagem of Mad King Donald, and his sycophantic administration, has been the ongoing roller-coaster trade policy saga – vast implications for both international and US domestic affairs. Before and certainly after “Liberation Day” — when Trump announced a regime of near-universal tariffs, chaos, and constant changes of direction — ever-escalating expressions of belligerence have characterized trade policy to an extent never seen before.

 

Trump’s announcements reflect a behind-the-scenes power struggle between protectionist ideologues and more conventional conservatives horrified by the likely fallout of a trade war. At times, it even appeared that the Mad King himself was being whipsawed by the disastrous impact on financial markets, due primarily to his threats to build Fortress America with strategies straight out of the 19th century.

 

Yet, in spite of all the threats and bluster, Mad King Donald has not secured, let alone accomplished, one iota of a concession from America’s major trading partners. He has been left with trying to fill a hole that he deliberately dug.

 

The downside of the Trumpist phenomenon is that all his believers think that the chaos that Trump generates is the hallmark of a great genius - no normal mind could possibly come up with such an erratic course of action.

 

But it’s the rationalisation of the Mad King’s worst impulses that is especially dangerous, since it reinforces his own belief that he is never wrong. Trump plays on this fact, as he wows the crowd with his pathetic little dance, that only he is right – behaving more and more erratically, as he continues to reward destructive nihilism in his subordinates. But there is no reward for the rest of the world, unless you play the Trumpian game and become a member of Mad King Donald’s sycophant club.

 

Clueless on Trump’s chaos?

 

While Australia is still hooked on AUKUS and that the US will deliver our nuclear submarines, we are being ‘milked’ like a heard of dairy cows. The fact is that nuclear submarines will do absolutely nothing to protect Australian trade if war was to break out.

 

Yet the Albanese government remains signed up to AUKUS, despite evidence that the promised Virginia-class submarines will never be delivered.

 

Our fixation over the AUKUS pact is almost like a remake of the 1995 Clueless movie, which centred on someone who sought popularity and wanted to do good deeds, then realising how misguided they were.

 

Just like the Clueless movie, our government’s maritime plan is built on a deeply flawed foundation and cannot deliver what it promises — particularly in the event of war between the US and China.

 

So, why does Australia keep handing over billions of dollars on the AUKUS deal? Funding has been cranked up to $18 billion over five years, largely as a tribute payment to President Trump.

 

This represents an additional $6 billion compared to last year’s budget for nuclear-powered submarines. This AUKUS cost will keep growing year by year, with a total project cost now hitting $375 billion.

 

This is funding that will not be going towards the things the public needs, like dental and mental health into Medicare, public housing or funding public education.

 

It would seem that Albanese, just like John Howard, the Prime Minister he once derided, believes that the political landscape he now commands, is that of a Man of Steel – bringing "unparalleled prosperity" to the Australian people.

 

This mindset is borne from what he must believe is a mandate to push ahead, denying the reality of how bad the AUKUS deal has become as a result of the Mad King’s reign – talking the talk of someone who sees Australia’s future in renewables, but walks the walk of just another politician controlled by fossil fuel interests.

 

When challenged on the ever-changing landscape and irrationality of the Trump policies, Albanese says, and rightly so, “we follow our own path and Australia determines our own foreign policy”.

 

However, is the Federal government holding Australia back by not challenging Trump’s tariff mania to the fullest extent and not being forceful enough in challenging Trump’s fear mongering about the imminent military threat of China?

 

It’s no secret that Mad King Donald’s defence secretary, Pete Hegseth – profoundly and slavishly delusional about his boss – has referenced Australia numerous times, in examples of the US growing military links in the Asia-Pacific region. “This summer, the US Army has plans to conduct its first live-fire test of its Mid-Range Capability system in Australia,” Hegseth enthused.

 

And while Hegseth salivated over the upcoming military soiree in Australia – claiming that it was necessary because China’s military buildup was a threat to the Pacific/Asia region, and to US, security – there was not one word, not even an oblique reference, to AUKUS.

 

It takes a real conman to have the ‘goolies’ to undermine AUKUS, but Hegseth pulled it off without the blink of an eye. So, how stupid are we? A Trump subordinate keeping an Australian shovel line of money flowing into US coffers, while we are still getting zilch in return. Yet, the con doesn’t end there – Hegesth demanded that allies and partners increase defence spending, saying: “Many countries are tempted by the idea of seeking both economic cooperation with China and defence cooperation with the United States. Now that is a geographic necessity for many. But beware the leverage that the CCP seeks with that entanglement. Economic dependence on China only deepens their malign influence and complicates our defence decision space during times of tension.”

 

Hegesth was referring to Australia – we should cut our economic tries with China. And, of course if we don’t, comes the threat of much greater than the modest direct economic impacts of Trump’s tariffs already foisted upon Australia.

 

But while Hegesth is making demands, and while our government has bent over backwards to accommodate US testing of its Mid-Range Capability system in Australia, Mad King Donald hasn’t changed his position to provide military aid if Australia called upon America to do so.

 

The ‘not so’ American dream

 

America has now become a bewildering blend of the ridiculous and the deadly serious, and the implications of this for Australia are profound.

 

The unserious nature of the U.S. is reflected in Mad King Donald and his previous best buddy Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, fighting in public: what sort of image would be painted for Australians, let alone the world, if Anthony Albanese and Gina Rinehart duked it out by abusing each other on social media.

 

Yet America’s flippancy has been building to the point where the US isn't even a comprehensible ally, let alone a reliable one, or a safe place to invest anymore — global investors are now steadily reducing their exposure to American assets.

 

And, while the Mad King continues to crank out a plethora of executive orders, a world jury has delivered a unanimous verdict on the Trump administration – Australia should learn from France’s President Macron. A “third way”, based explicitly on what he referred to as South-East Asian countries’ lack of desire for confrontation with China - based on greater cooperation and trade. “We must show consistency where others practise a double game,” Macron said.

 

Anthony Albanese, however, is hoping to meet with the Mad King (Chaos Maker-in-Chief) on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada on Sunday (local time), and like those other heads of state, who have ventured into the White House, there’s no guarantee that the Mad King won’t act true to form – a humiliating beating on camera. Why? Because Trump, who has an aggressive and uncomprehending understanding of diplomacy, still believes, because of Australia’s biosecurity measures, there is a ban on American beef.

 

So, Australia needs to be wary of the Mad King’s reign; treading carefully, while rethinking our relationship, even to the extent of a non-trusting security alliance, if that could even be possible.

 

And while Albanese beards the lion, he needs to call Trump out over the shooting of Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi in Los Angeles by LAPD – albeit with rubber bullets fired at protesters – while she reported on the demonstrations against immigration raids.

 

Tomasi told Nine News: “I'm okay, my cameraman Jimmy and I are both safe. This is just one of the unfortunate realities of reporting on these kinds of incidents.”

 

The Prime Minister must seek an urgent explanation from the US administration. He must tell the President to stop shooting at our journalists.

 

Freedom of the press is a fundamental pillar of a strong, functioning democracy. Although in MAGA-land, democracy is now becoming questionable.

 

Yet all the Chaos Maker-in-Chief could say so far about the shooting incident and protesting, was that calling in the troops was “a great decision”. Los Angeles “would have been completely obliterated” if he hadn't sent in 2,000 National Guard troops.

 

California Governor Gavin Newsom said previously that “local law enforcement didn't need help” and that “Trump sent troops anyway — to manufacture chaos and violence”. He added: “Trump succeeded. Now things are destabilised and we need to send in more law enforcement just to clean up Trump's mess”.

 

Newsom said sending in the National Guard was an “unconstitutional act”. He added later: “We are suing Donald Trump. This is a manufactured crisis. He is creating fear and terror to take over a state militia and violate the US constitution. The illegal order he signed could allow him to send the military into any state he wishes. This is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism that threatens the foundation of our republic. We cannot let it stand.”

 

And so, it goes – rubber bullets and tear gas the weapons of choice – as the lunatic in the White House wages war on the City of Los Angeles and its citizens. What next? Civil war in America, as the US military is rolled out onto sovereign soil?

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