In his 1965 novel Dune, Frank Herbert wrote “Observe the plans within plans within plans.” I can think of no better way to describe the last 12 months of Trump’s presidency.
At the behest of President Trump, airstrikes began in September 2025 on Venezuelan boats purportedly carrying drugs to the US, though the administration provided no proof. These air strikes continued through mid-December: in total 26 vessels were sunk and at least 95 people were killed.
The Venezuela strike
On 3 January 2026 Trump ordered an airstrike attack, referred to as “Operation Absolute Resolve” by the Trump administration, upon the sovereign country of Venezuela. During the air strike US special forces, likely with inside cooperation, abducted the sitting President, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife. They have since been flown to New York City where they are facing narcotic and terrorism charges in a federal US court.
Trump stated during a press conference that the couple would be facing criminal charges in the US, but more importantly went on to highlight that the US is “going to run” Venezuela. The following day Trump asserted that the US is “in charge” of Venezuela, though his Secretary of State Marco Rubio attempted to soft-pedal Trump’s statements with different language.
It was acknowledged by Trump in no uncertain terms that the military operation was executed to acquire the rich Venezuelan oil reserves. Will these actions profit the American people at large? Highly unlikely, regardless of what Trump is saying publicly, given that there has been a tepid response from US oil companies about investing large sums of money in Venezuelan oil concerns, at least until the country stabilizes.
Imperialism ahoy!
There is additional saber rattling from Trump regarding Cuba, Columbia and Greenland. Welcome to the world where the US is not only run by an authoritarian but is looking increasingly imperialist.
Plans of imperialism by other countries continue to expand around the globe. Russia continues its onslaught on the Ukraine, Israel its depopulation of the Palestinian people and China seeks to acquire Taiwan. It may seem fantastical, but are there behind-the-scenes discussions where the world is simply being divided up by the US, Russia, China and Israel?
Yet even as the White House tilts toward open imperialism, an unexpected countercurrent is emerging – one that challenges Trump from within.
Meanwhile, in New York City …
On the immediate home front Zohran Mamdani has begun reshaping the direction of New York City. The largest city in the US, as well as the financial capital of the country, it stands in stark contrast to the federal government.
On 1 January, minutes after midnight, Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as Mayor of New York City. The small ceremony included his family and New York Attorney General Leticia James who administered the oath of office. Mamdani, who rested his hand on two different Qurans, is New York City’s first muslim mayor, first south-east Asian, and its first Democratic Socialist. A remarkable rise from having previously been a New York State Assembly member representing the borough of Astoria.
The ceremony was held in the historic 1904 City Hall subway station, which was decommissioned in 1945. Choosing the location, Mamdani said “it was a physical monument to a city that dared to be both beautiful and build great things that would transform working people’s lives.” Certainly, this is a vision for the future of New York City under Mayor Mamdani’s governance and stewardship.
The second oath of office, later in the day, was a large public ceremony outdoors in front of City Hall. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (US House Representative for New York’s 14th congressional district, and commonly known as AOC) made opening remarks that were profound and inspiring. She was an early supporter of Mayor Mamdani, and both identify as Democratic Socialists. Interesting to note that AOC is 36 years old and Mamdani is 34 years old, making them both Millennials – a much-needed generational change in US politics. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont made opening statements before Mamdani once again took the oath of office. Though several generations older, Senator Sanders continues to inspire Mamdani and AOC with the reality of Democratic Socialism.
After the public oath Mamdani spoke to the crowd reaffirming his commitment to making New York City affordable through free child care, freezing rents, a free bus service and city-owned grocery stores. Unlike so many politicians of the day, Mamdani did not back-pedal the plans he stated in his campaign.
There are detractors who say Mamdani’s plans for New York City are unattainable. I disagree. Mamdani is being underestimated and in my opinion is brilliantly suited for the times. When the news was announced that the US had performed airstrikes in Venezuela and abducted its leader Nicolás Maduro, the newly sworn-in Mayor Mamdani phoned Trump expressing his opposition to Trump’s actions.
The battle royal: European Union vs. Trump and friends
At the close of 2025 came a very important news story, which isn’t on the radar with many here in the US. This is the unfolding battle royal between the EU and Trump and friends. By ‘friends’ I mean the American billionaire ‘tech bros’ who are backing Trump and directing him to object to the EU Digital Services Act.
In September 2025 Google was fined by the European Commission for violating antitrust rules. In early December 2025 Elon Musk was fined €120mn by the EU for “breaching transparency obligations”. Now Trump and the tech bros are accusing the EU of censoring and regulating American businesses.
The accusation that Europe is violating American free speech isn’t garnering much traction here – Americans have more domestic concerns. (There was more excitement over the fiasco of renaming French Fries to Freedom Fries during the George W Bush administration when France questioned the US’s authority to invade Iraq.)
But on Christmas Eve Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that five individuals – a former top EU official and four high-profile activists against hate speech and disinformation on social media – were banned from entering the U.S. He alleged that they are leading “organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize and suppress American viewpoints they oppose”.
I believe his statement may have been intended to stir up public support for the US’s aggressive push to impose its laissez-faire capitalism on the EU. But the EU, it seems, is not inclined to become a rubbish heap of misinformation like the US has become.
Events in 2026 show two futures developing at once: an America claiming empire, and an America trying to rebuild democracy from the ground up.
Such are my impressions at this moment in time, my British Cousins. I bid you adieu.
Guy Anthony Ayres
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