Sylvia Demarest: Seven Months into the Trump Administration, a Report on Militarism, War, and the Prospects for Peace
By Sylvia Demarest, Substack, 8/26/25
In his inaugural address, President Donald J. Trump expressed a desire to be a “peacemaker and a unifier.” He emphasized that his administration would focus on restoring confidence and pride in the nation while aiming to “end wars and prevent new conflicts.” Trump pledged to create peace by building “the strongest military the world has ever seen,” indicating that military strength would be a key component of his approach to achieving peace. He stated, “Our power will stop all wars and bring a new spirit of unity to a world that has been angry, violent and totally unpredictable.” This is similar to past claims of “peace through strength” forced on every US president by militarism. To back up his pledge of “peace through strength”, the Big Beautiful Bill Act added $150 billion to the annual budget of the Department of Defense. This means the US has a trillion dollar defense budget, and funds an industrial weapons monopoly that produces overpriced, exceptionally complex weapons, while promoting the sale and use of these weapons around the world. By any measure, the creation of an entity this destructive, is objectively insane.
US diplomatic and military history since WW2 is a history of unbridled war and bullying. Every day, President Trump seems to issue a new threat. But the world is changing. Economic power is shifting to the east and military power may be shifting as well. In this environment, “building the strongest military the world has ever seen” may no longer be economically and technologically feasible. The old tactics of bullying and threating war could backfire. Also, the power of the national security must somehow be managed. Could this “tug of war” explain the never ending “Trumpian chaos”? Some observers think it does, I have no idea.
Every US president who has tried to promote peace has faced pressure and opposition. First from Military Keynesianism to both sell and use up the weapons the weapons manufacturers produce. Next, from a National Security State that pressures every president to promote war, sell weapons, and promote US hegemony. We are witnessing massive personnel changes in DC, both in the military hierarchy, in the intelligence community, and now even at the Federal Reserve; but the goal of these changes is unclear, and the power of the national security state cannot be discounted. Take the example of John Bolton, National Security Advisor in the first Trump administration. Formerly untouchable, Bolton’s home and office were just raided by the FBI. Bolton is typical of the deep state warmongers who populate Washington DC. His advice to President Trump during Trump’s first term serves as an example of the warmongering militarism US presidents must deal with. This is from Bolton’s book: The Room Where It Happened.
From James Carden: “In the span of just several pages, Bolton recalls that at one time or another he has counseled Trump to launch a preventive strike on Iran’s nuclear program; scrap the Paris climate agreement; tear up the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (aka the Iranian nuclear deal); pull out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty; withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council; defund the UN Relief Works Agency; prepare a preemptive strike against North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile program; and consider the idea of a sinister, conspiratorial link between Iran, North Korea, and Syria.”
Carden continues: “After a litany like this, one can’t help but recall MacGeorge Bundy’s observation about the hawkish Washington columnist Joseph Alsop, that he had “never known him to go to any area where blood could be spilled that he didn’t come back and say more blood. That is his posture toward the universe.”
Taking the President’s stated goal to be a “peacemaker “at face value, this essay examines the impact of US militarism on both the national debt and our society, looks at Trump’s claim to have ended 6 wars, and briefly examines the potential for peace given the ongoing wars and the prospect for new wars.
The cost of Militarism –the impact on the US national debt
According to up-to-date data from the US Treasury on the budget shortfall, the federal deficit in the United States for 2025, is $1,628,515,019,238. This number represents how much federal spending exceeded revenue for the last budget year. I am writing down the full number arithmetically so you can see the true size. The total US national debt now exceeds $37 trillion–that’s 37 plus 12 zeros! In 2024 debt service i.e. interest paid on the national debt toped 1 trillion for the first time in our history. These annual deficit numbers are greater than the Gross Domestic Product of most countries. The US finances this deficit by selling treasury securities. The ability to sell those securities, especially to foreigners, depends heavily on the dollar’s role as a global reserve currency, and on the US maintaining a strong economy.
There are three big ticket items in the federal budget that account for most of the spending: the cost of militarism, the cost of health care and pharmaceuticals, and beginning last year, the interest paid on the national debt. As Yogie Bera is claimed to have said: “if something can’t go on forever, it will stop.” What would the end of our ability to finance these budget deficits mean for the welfare of the people of our country? At best, a serious decline in our standard of living, at worst, hyperinflation, chaos and civil war.
If annual cost of the Department of Defense, over the last 80 years, is added to the cost of the wars the US has fought over that time, our current national debt represents the accumulated cost of this history of militarism and war. As discussed in several articles on this Substack, since the end of WW2 the US has been captured by militarism and has become economically dependent on military spending i.e. on “Military Keynesianism”. The societal cost, as represented by the decline of economic fairness, along with our growing economic and social dysfunction, has been documented on this Substack. The extreme concentration of wealth and power in the US (and the West) is a direct result of the triumph of militarism, along with neoliberalism (financialization), and the monopolization of the US economy. The resulting dysfunction is manifest at every level of our society, economic, social, legal, and psychological. Yet, sadly, despite the cost, blood lust, war, and greed, continues to dominate our government.
President Trump’s first 7 months
Air strikes: In the first seven months of his second term, Donald Trump has conducted 529 airstrikes in over 240 locations across the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa. The exact number of countries targeted is not specified, but the airstrikes have been extensive, with a significant focus on regions like Yemen including the strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites. This is almost as many air strikes as conducted by the Biden Administration in four years.
Most of these strikes targeted the “Iran-backed Houthis “known as Ansar Allah, a Zaydi Shia Islamist political and military group from Yemen that emerged in the 1990’s. Ansar Allah opposes the Yemen government; they control part of Yemen and have blocked Israeli access to the Red Sea in opposition to the Israeli genocide in Gaza. They are one of the few groups to actively oppose Israel, despite the cost.
Ending 6 wars: President Trump claims to have ended 6 wars in the last 7 months. For these efforts, he wants a Nobel Peace Prize. Trump is actively lobbying the Nobel committee. Let’s examine each claim:
Egypt-Ethiopia: This goes back to Trump’s first term when the two countries were feuding over a huge hydropower dam. There was never a war nor a peace agreement over this issue.
India-Pakistan: Trump announced that the two nuclear power countries had reached a cease fire in May. India does not credit Trump with brokering the halt in the fighting.
The Congo and Rwanda: A treaty was announced by Trump in May, including opening the door to Western and US investment including potential access to certain minerals. Secretary of State Rubio was credited with bringing the parties together.
Cambodia-Thailand: Leaders of the two countries agreed to a ceasefire on July 28 after five deadly days of fighting, Reuters reported. Trump urged them to negotiate a ceasefire or else trade deals with the governments would stall.
Armenia-Azerbaijan: This one is complicated and potentially related to a new attack on Iran. The agreement includes what is called “The Trump Route”. This route splits Armenia and Azerbaijan and terminates on the border with Iran. The treaty gives the US exclusive development rights. This is not a move that will promote peace. Iran is opposed and the agreement would provide the US/NATO/Israel with access to both the Iranian border and the Caspian Sea, potentially destabilizing the entire area. Still, the two former Soviet republics and Trump signed a peace agreement at the White House on Aug. 8, ending a decades-long war. The leaders of the countries gave Trump ample praise for his efforts at the ceremony.
The sneak attack on Iran: In the boldest claim of all, Trump took credit for ending the 12-day war with Iran, a war he helped start! Trump announced on June 23 a ceasefire between the two countries after the U.S. joined Israel in bombing Iranian nuclear sites. I doubt that hostilities against Iran are over.
Ending The Ongoing Wars
Ukraine–Ending the Ukraine war in 1 day: There is zero evidence that the positions of either Russia or Ukraine have budged since the Alaska meeting on the 15th, or after the White House meeting with Zelensky and the 7 representatives of the EU on the 18th. The parties are still far apart, and the war will continue so long as the US and NATO continue to provide money, weapons, and targeting support to Ukraine. In a speech last Sunday marking Ukrainian independence, Zelensky pledged not to give up land for peace, and to reclaim Crimea by force. Regarding Russia, there were suggestions that maybe Putin will relent and not insist that Ukraine withdraw its forces from Zaporizhzhia and Kherson should Ukraine Russian withdraw from the Donbass, as a prelude to a ceasefire. Unfortunately, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, did not support this claim in a recent interview. At the White House meeting on the 18th, Zelensky reiterated his position that all territory, including Crimea must be returned to Ukraine, and Russia be forced to pay billions in reparations. This proposal will not end the war.
On August 7th Gallup published polling results showing that 69% of Ukrainians favored a “negotiated end to the war as soon as possible”. This is a radical change from 2022 when only 22% supported a negotiated end to the war.
For those of you interested in the history anti-Russian meddling by the CIA in Ukraine, I recommend an essay by Kit Klarenberg: “Declassified: The CIA’s Covert Ukraine Invasion Plan.” Without going into details, the article discusses the planning that went into promoting a civil war in Ukrainian, creating the conditions that forced Russia to intervene.
Perhaps the Alaska meeting was designed to defang or delay the demand by Senator Lindsey Graham that the US return to tariff and sanctions threats. These threats did not go over well with India, Brazil, and China.
Ukraine continues to be supported with money and arms. Ukraine has been promised long-range missiles from the US and NATO countries, assuming they are presently available for delivery. Ukraine has also been promised assistance in building missiles in Ukrainian. One missile factory was just destroyed by Russia. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones and missiles have had some success in impacting oil supplies and prices within Russia with drone strikes. It is claimed that some of these drones may have been fired from Finland and/or the Balkans–dangerous if true.
Opening Communications with Russia: There are many reasons other than ending the Ukraine war for the US to reopen communications with Russia. Communications were completely cut off by the Biden Administration when the war began in February of 2022. Even in the height of the Cold War the US and Russia communicated with each other. Cutting off communications was dangerous and unnecessary.
One big reason for the US and Russia to communicate is the Artic and its resources. Remember, the US offered to buy Greenland and suggested that Canada become the 51ststate? Look at a map–if this were to happen, the US and Russia would share a border with the Arctic of almost equal size and would dominate the region. Right now, Russia is far ahead of the US in developing the Arctic’s potential. Russia has military bases there, oil fields, and operates very effective ice breakers giving her year-round access.
Then there are other resources and expertise Russia possesses. Rosatom has perfected the nuclear fuel cycle, meaning nuclear waste can be reprocessed and reused. Rosatom also builds advanced nuclear facilities. Meanwhile, China has built and is operating a Thorium molten salt reactor that will not melt down. If the US can partner with Russia, we can greatly expand our use of nuclear power.
Otherwise, there is little evidence of concrete change in the US/Russia relationship.
Israel–The ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing of Gaza and the West Bank: All modern wars are horribly destructive and everything possible should be done to prevent them. One of the most unbearable conflicts today is the ongoing destruction of Gaza and the ongoing starving of two million Palestinian people, if many Palestinians still survive.
This war is a prime example of what money and unaccountable power can accomplish. Both the Biden and Trump administrations have been directly involved in supporting and facilitating this genocidal war, and in helping silence those who are opposed. Congressional delegations from both political parties traveled to Israel this summer and were photographed with Netanyahu. This is despite the fact that what is happening in Gaza represents one of the most monstrous misdeeds of Western imperialism in the 21st century.
Slowly the façade of “western civilization” is being removed, and we are being forced to acknowledge that this ongoing atrocity is the result of deliberate policy–a policy supported not only by Zionism, but by the US, the UK, and much of the EU. It reflects an imperial policy that has been in effect for a long time. As Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli explicitly statedin the 19th Century regarding the objective of the British Empire: “Gain and hold territories that possess the largest supplies of the basic raw materials. Establish naval bases around the world to control the sea and commerce lanes. Blockade and starve into submission any nation or group of nations that opposes this empire control program.”
Today, the Zionists of Israel, with the help of our government, are again using blockade and starvation as a weapon. The wealth and power of Zionist billionaires, including their ability to destroy anyone who dissents, has acted as a shield against accountability.
The destruction of the indigenous population of Palestine may be another step in recently reiterated plan for “Greater Israel”. The goal of “Greater Isreal” is to rule the Middle East and its energy resources on behalf of Zionist and Western interests. War with Iran is needed to take control of Iran’s oil as part of “the plan” to counter and control China. To achieve these goals, several million Palestinians must die or be relocated, Lebanon, Syria, and parts of Egypt, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia must be conquered, and their occupants expelled to be replaced by Zionists.
This sounds crazy but replacement is happening right now in the West Bank. 25 Jewish settlers from Canada and the U.S. arrived in the occupied Palestinian territories today, moving into homes and land taken from Palestinians. “Taken from” means that violence was used to steal Palestinian property without paying any compensation. After all, 93% of Palestine has been stolen from Palestinians since 1948 without one penny of compensation being paid to any of the Palestinians who owned the land and homes. This is what wealth and power permits–the ability to act with complete impunity.
The prospect for new wars
War with Iran: There are indications that the Israeli/US war against Iran could begin again at any time. President Trump has threatened war if Iran does not end its nuclear program. Iran has refused to do this. War with Iran is could envelope the entire Middle East.
There were recent reports of Israel wanting to launch a preemptive war against Iran–with US weapons and support, of course. Israeli Colonel Jacques Neriah, a former intelligence official and a special analyst for the Middle East, warned on Sunday of an impending “second round” of war against Iran as Tehran weighs a revenge attack on Tel Aviv. “There is a sense that a war is coming, that Iranian revenge is in the works. The Iranians will not be able to live with this humiliation for long,” Neriah told Udi Segal and Anat Davidov on 103FM.
“Israel must launch a preemptive strike against Iran in its present state, as a large part of its military capabilities is paralyzed,” he added.
Let’s recall the events of the 12-day war that Israel started. Israel launched a sneak attack, while Iran was engaged in peace negotiations with the US. The sneak attack was designed to assassinate the entire Iranian civilian and military leadership–a decapitation strike that almost succeeded. Now, Israel wants the US to go to war with Iran to finish Iran’s destruction. Given Zionist power in the US, Israel may successfully goad the US into another war. After all, the US has been fighting Israel’s wars in the Middle East since 911. These are wars of choice, based on lies, that destabilized the Middle East, killed millions, caused in thousands of US casualties, and added trillions to our national debt. Why would the US fight another war for Israel?
Wars in this hemisphere: The Trump Administration has taken 2 actions that could lead to war in this hemisphere. This includes a possible war against Venezuela, or strikes against drug cartels in countries like Mexico, Columbia, and Venezuela.
Drug cartels: President Trump has signed a directive on the use of military force against drug cartels. Here’s the New York Times: “President Trump has secretly signed a directive to the Pentagon to begin using military force against certain Latin American drug cartels that his administration has deemed terrorist organizations, according to people familiar with the matter.”
“The decision to bring the American military into the fight is the most aggressive step so far in the administration’s escalating campaign against the cartels. It signals Mr. Trump’s continued willingness to use military forces to carry out what has primarily been considered a law enforcement responsibility to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs.”
“The order provides an official basis for the possibility of direct military operations at sea and on foreign soil against cartels.”
“U.S. military officials have started drawing up options for how the military could go after the groups, the people familiar with the conversations said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive internal deliberations.”
War with Venezuela: The Trump Administration has placed a $50 million reward for the arrest of the president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, and sent a flotilla of ships to threaten the county. President Trump last week ordered at least three Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers, a submarine and other assets to head towards Venezuela. Earlier this week Reuters also reported that, in addition to the destroyers, 4,000 marines aboard an Amphibious Ready Group were also sent.
The US has been at odds with Venezuela for decades, and has supported coups and other regime change efforts, first against Hugo Chavez, and now against Nicholas Maduro. The cause is a wave of nationalizations of the oil industry and sanctions, resulting in defaults and the US seizing Venezuelan assets, including Citgo. The US has also supported various “governments in exile” using confiscated Venezuelan assets. One government in exile was headed by Juan Guaidó. The asset confiscation and debt defaults amount to over $18 billion. Bids are being taken now for a forced sale of Citgo.
Meanwhile, Venezuela has the largest oil reserves on earth totaling 303 billion barrels, larger that Saudi Arabia at 267 barrels. US refiners are optimized to use this heavy crude; they need and continue to buy Venezuelan crude. US refiners, working for years with Citgo and Venezuela, spent billions on refineries to process this crude. The sanctions the US imposed on Venezuela has hurt margins because alternatives from Canada and Mexico do not work as well in these refineries. Venezuelan crude is a strategic asset for US refiners. These refiners include some of the largest oil companies in the world.
It is difficult to understand why this flotilla of war ships, along with marines, are being sent to Venezuela given the success of recent diplomatic negotiations that resulted in the resumption of the oil trade. This resumption marks a significant shift in bilateral energy relations after years of sanctions and restricted trade, and has created a pathway for Venezuelan oil tankers to once again deliver their cargo to U.S. refineries. Venezuelan crude is on its way to the US–why does the US need to go to war with Venezuela?
Conclusion
So far there is no peace and not much unity. Ongoing wars have not been ended, and several countries face new threats of war. At some point the people of the United States will have to step in and impose sanity on the warmongers if we are to survive as a nation. This Substack has spent the last 5 months outlining how neoliberalism, militarism, and monopolization has so concentrated wealth and power that most people can no longer afford the cost of living. Our emphasis should be on restoring economic fairness and opportunity, not starting a world war. War is no longer a realistic option and our emphasis on militarism increasingly represents a waste of precious assets. Modern war holds the potential to destroy civilization itself. I keep saying–drive around and imagine bombs exploding all around you–this will happen unless we come to our senses as a nation.
The President of Russia, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, has discussed his dealings with 4 US Presidents since 2000. President Putin reported that while the US president changed, the foreign policy of the US did not. Worse, President Putin reported that every US president he dealt with was unable to carry out the agreements they reached after returning to the US.
Perhaps this is because the decision to go to war with Russia was made well before the Maidan coup of February 2014 and western warmongers were waiting for the opportunity to go to war with Russia? Well, they have had their opportunity. As a result of the Ukraine war, the West has forced Russia, once again, to become a great power with global reach. Unlike the US and the West, Russia has the resources and the industrial capacity to sustain a war economy.
The goal of western militarism was outlined by the Rand Corporation in 2019–to overextend and unbalance Russia. While this has yet to happen to Russia, the West now seems overextended and unbalanced. Meanwhile, Russia continues to increase her industrial capacity. This Russophobic hatred of Russia has damaged the economies of the European community, yet the leaders of Europe’s largest economies refuse to demand a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine.
If the oil reserves of Russia, Iran, Venezuela and the arctic are added together, the outlines of a plan to control the world economy and sustain US hegemony becomes clear. Given the growing power of Russia and China, the US and the West appear to have lost the opportunity to achieve such a plan.
There are other dangerous considerations at work that demand peace. The US is running dangerously low on stockpiles of vital conventional weapons. This could limit US options for conventional war. The lack of conventional weapons could lead to the use of nuclear weapons–not by Russia, China, Iran, or Venezuela–but by the United States and/or Israel. This means that the risk of nuclear war is currently greater than most people realize. It is time for peace to prevail. Is President Trump serious about peace? Does Trump, or any US President, have the power to make peace? We are about to find out.
