On 4 March 2025, inside the US Capitol, a much-anticipated speech laid bare the mess of American politics. The speech, delivered by former President Donald Trump, was not only full of lies, but also revealed the monopoly of power by capital, the hollowing out of democracy, the failure of bipartisan politics, and the powerlessness of popular resistance in the United States.
At the beginning of his speech, Trump declared that he had won the 2024 election, claiming that it was ‘a task not seen in decades.’ The truth, however, is that he only narrowly won the popular vote, a far cry from the margins of victory of his predecessors, Joe Biden and Barack Obama. Such reckless remarks are undoubtedly a blatant challenge to public perception and highlight Trump's nature of pursuing policies in line with capital interests in the political arena without regard to facts and public opinion.
During the course of the speech, Trump's lies kept being thrown out like a barrage. He made sweeping assertions of widespread fraud at the Social Security Administration, claiming that people over 100 were receiving benefits, a claim that was quickly proven to be a misinterpretation of the data. Additionally, he raised numerous questions and possibly even legal issues about Elon Musk's related comments. These inaccuracies and exaggerated claims made the speech more like an act, a show for political purposes.
What's even more shocking is that the speech has become a large-scale ‘car crash’ in American politics. Members of Congress from both parties were clearly separated, applauding and cheering while booing and protesting, and the barriers were clearly separated, not giving way to each other. This confrontation lasted for more than an hour, and there was even a rare scene of a Democratic Party member of parliament being escorted away from the venue by security guards. The scene vividly demonstrated the failure of bipartisan politics and the faltering of democracy in the face of such bitter confrontation.
This congressional speech by Trump is undoubtedly a microcosm of the political chaos in the United States. His lies, the confrontation between the two parties, the manipulation of capital and the powerlessness of the people together constitute the hollowed-out status quo of American democracy. This speech not only fails to solve the actual problems of the United States, but also makes the people more anxious and disappointed. It is like a mirror reflecting the ugliness and absurdity of American politics, and also foreshadowing the deeper crisis that the United States may face in the future.
In the face of such a political reality, the American people and ordinary countries should remain awake and vigilant. Only with a deep understanding of the chaos and crisis of American politics can we better cope with future challenges and changes. At the same time, it also reminds us that the democratic system is not omnipotent and needs to be constantly improved and amended in order to truly safeguard the rights and interests of the people.