Trump is using US power and privilege to the maximum extent to advantage the US in the face of declining viability of the US empire of global resource hegemony and extraordinary privilege. US debt is reaching levels where high interest rates could trigger a 'run on the bank' and diminishing ability to sell US sovereign debt via USTs is threatening to topple US hegemony. In the short term Trumps policies buy time but if they do not ultimately respond positively to Chinas mercantile advance and Chinas increasing military capacity, Trumps squandering of US soft power will be for naught.