America in the Trump Era: Transformations of Nihilism and the Rise of the 'Mad Wolf' Among Nations

The writer evoked the memory of the golden age of journalism through the experience of the late French journalist Hervé Bourges, who saw newspapers as an addiction from which there was no escape, just like music or sports. Reading in those decades was a sacred daily ritual that went beyond novels to include philosophy, politics, and economics, where reading the newspaper was associated with morning habits in cafes and public transport, a scene that has become rare today, especially in the Arab region, which has witnessed a sharp decline in the number of paper journalism addicts.

The charm of journalism in the past was linked to that ethical and cultural contract between the reader and prominent writers and respected columnists who shaped public consciousness. In American and British journalism, names such as William Pfaff, Peter Jenkins, and Hugo Young emerged, who gave their journalistic institutions intellectual weight, making their articles eagerly anticipated events by the public, given their deep connection to European intellectual formation and their ability to provide insightful visions that went beyond mere news reporting.

In the context of major transformations, the renowned commentator David Brooks announced his retirement from writing for the 'New York Times' after a career that began in 2003, expressing in a sarcastic manner his disappointment with the direction American politics had taken. Brooks, who sought to establish a moderate conservative ideology, found himself facing a reality completely different from what he aspired to, as he believes that the world has dramatically changed for the worse since he joined the newspaper, which prompted him to dedicate himself to writing and research projects.

The analysis points to a state of collective loss of trust that has afflicted American society, where disappointment is no longer limited to the religious aspect but has extended to include political and economic institutions. The Iraq War contributed to shattering trust in military power, while the financial crisis destroyed faith in absolute capitalism, leading to the internet, which transformed from a communication tool into a platform for exacerbating hatred and social isolation, making public discourse more negative than it has been in a century and a half.

The culmination of these transformations is embodied in the rise of the Trump phenomenon, which Brooks describes as 'nihilism incarnate,' based on the principle that power and tyranny are the only drivers of life, far from any moral constraints. With 69% of Americans no longer believing in the 'American Dream,' it seems that the United States is on a rough path that may end with it becoming a 'mad wolf' in the international arena, driven by a desire to harm and impose absolute authority.

Trump is nothing but nihilism personified in a man, claiming that morals are only for fools and that life means nothing but power, authority, and tyranny.