America First: A Call to Prioritize Domestic Renewal Over Global Entanglements

The rallying cry of “America First” defined Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, emphasizing national sovereignty, economic protectionism, border security, and a rejection of endless foreign wars. Trump assumed office for his second term in January 2025, so citizens must compel his administration to honor these promises. Failure risks internal decay mirroring Mexico’s cartel-driven instability, where corruption erodes governance.

This essay examines pressing domestic threats—cartel infiltration, political corruption, foreign policy distractions, Chinese influence via fentanyl and espionage, ballooning national debt, and alleged treason within one political party—framed through the lens of fifth-generation warfare (5GW). Only by refocusing on America can the nation prevail.

Mexico’s crisis stems from powerful drug cartels that have dominated the country for decades. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment, Mexican cartels like the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation control the production and trafficking of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other illicit drugs into the United States. These organizations generate billions annually, corrupting officials at all levels. A 2023 report by the Mexican government acknowledged over 100,000 homicides linked to organized crime since 2018, with cartels operating as de facto governments in regions like Michoacán and Guerrero. This violence spills northward: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data shows that in fiscal year 2024, border agents seized over 27,000 pounds of fentanyl—enough to kill the entire U.S. population multiple times over, per DEA estimates.

These cartels do not stop at the border. Despite the heroism of American law enforcement, they maintain networks across the U.S. The DEA reports that cartel affiliates operate in over 1,000 U.S. cities, distributing drugs that contributed to 107,941 overdose deaths in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Local police, such as those in border states like Texas and Arizona, face overwhelming odds; Texas alone reported 1,800 cartel-related incidents in 2024. This infiltration undermines communities, fuels gang violence, and strains resources, creating pockets of lawlessness akin to Mexico’s failed regions.

Domestically, a parallel exists in entrenched political corruption. Long-tenured politicians often prioritize personal gain over public service, fostering a system where influence peddling becomes normalized. The nonpartisan watchdog OpenSecrets tracked over $4.1 billion in lobbying expenditures in 2023, with former officials revolving into high-paid consultant roles. Term limits remain absent at the federal level, allowing figures like Senator Mitch McConnell (in office since 1985) or Representative Nancy Pelosi (since 1987) to amass power. A 2024 Gallup poll revealed only 23% of Americans trust the federal government to do what is right most of the time—the lowest in decades. This breeds cynicism and division, mirroring cartel corruption but through legal channels like earmarks and insider trading allegations, as seen in multiple congressional ethics probes.

President Trump must pivot from global conflicts to these homefront battles. The U.S. remains entangled in Ukraine’s war with Russia, where Congress approved $175 billion in aid since 2022, per the Congressional Research Service. In the Middle East, ongoing support for Israel amid the Gaza conflict and tensions with Iran has cost billions more, with U.S. forces still deployed in Syria and Iraq. Extracting from these non-kinetic quagmires—diplomatic, financial, and military—would free resources for domestic priorities. Trump’s campaign promised no new wars; fulfilling this means negotiating exits while bolstering alliances without open-ended commitments.

China poses an existential threat through fentanyl and espionage. The DEA’s 2024 assessment states that Chinese chemical companies supply precursor materials for nearly all fentanyl trafficked by Mexican cartels, contributing to over 70,000 U.S. opioid deaths annually in recent years. A 2023 House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party report estimated cumulative fentanyl deaths at over 300,000 since 2013. Simultaneously, China sends approximately 300,000 students annually to U.S. universities, per the Institute of International Education’s 2024 Open Doors report. Many are military-aged males (18-35), raising concerns of intellectual property theft and influence operations. The FBI has investigated over 1,000 cases of Chinese espionage in academia since 2018, including theft of sensitive research in AI, biotechnology, and quantum computing.

The national debt exacerbates vulnerability. As of November 2025, it stands at $36.2 trillion, according to the U.S. Treasury’s Debt to the Penny dataset, up from $35 trillion in early 2024. Interest payments alone exceeded $1 trillion in fiscal year 2025, per the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), crowding out investments in infrastructure, defense, and social programs. The CBO projects debt-to-GDP ratio reaching 122% by 2034 without reforms, risking economic stagnation or crisis.

Compounding this, Trump and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard have accused former President Barack Obama of treasonous acts against Trump during the 2016 election and beyond. In a November 2024 statement, Gabbard referenced declassified documents showing Obama-era officials’ involvement in the Crossfire Hurricane investigation, which the 2019 Inspector General report criticized for procedural irregularities. Trump has repeatedly claimed this constituted spying and election interference. While legal treason requires aiding enemies in wartime (18 U.S.C. § 2381), these allegations highlight deep-state divisions within the Democratic Party, eroding trust in one of America’s two major political institutions.

These threats converge in fifth-generation warfare (5GW), a concept outlined in military theorist William S. Lind’s writings and adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps. 5GW employs non-kinetic means: social engineering via media manipulation, misinformation campaigns on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), cyberattacks (e.g., China’s 2023 Microsoft Exchange hack affecting thousands of U.S. entities), and AI-driven propaganda. The Department of Defense’s 2022 strategy document warns of autonomous systems in hybrid warfare. When layered with corruption—politicians wittingly or unwittingly amplifying division, as in polarized debates over election integrity or border policy—societal cohesion fractures. Russia and China exploit this, per the 2024 ODNI Threat Assessment, through influence operations reaching millions of Americans.

Victory demands an “America First” imperative now. Enforce borders with technology and personnel; dismantle cartels via joint task forces. Impose term limits and ethics reforms to purge corruption. Exit foreign wars through diplomacy, redirecting funds to debt reduction and infrastructure. Ban fentanyl precursors from China, scrutinize student visas, and protect intellectual property. Investigate treason claims transparently to restore unity. In 5GW, resilience comes from informed, united citizens pressuring leaders. Trump vowed to make America win; the people must ensure he does. The alternative is decline—now or never.