The Preamble

The Preamble

“Like a Landlord Seeking Rent”

America was once seen as a force for moral legitimacy. The world thinks that has changed.

Elise Labott's avatar
Elise Labott
Mar 25, 2025
∙ Paid

Within weeks of taking office, the Trump administration has effectively gutted America's soft power apparatus, creating a power vacuum that is now being filled by China.

The imagery couldn't be more stark: As President Trump dismantled USAID, Chinese medical teams were checking household water conditions in African villages. While the US suspended $60 bi…

This post is for paid subscribers

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
Elise Labott's avatar
A guest post by
Elise Labott
Global affairs journalist. I write Cosmopolitics on Substack.
Subscribe to Elise
© 2026 Sharon McMahon · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture