The David Frum Show The End of the American Empire
62 snips
Nov 19, 2025 
Margaret MacMillan, an esteemed historian and professor at the University of Toronto and Oxford, joins the conversation to explore the fading influence of the United States on the global stage. They discuss whether the U.S. operates as an empire and the signs of its decline. MacMillan highlights how unilateral actions and economic policies reflect an abandonment of international norms, while considering the potential rise of alternatives like China. Their engaging dialogue uncovers the historical roots of America’s current role and the challenges that lie ahead.
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Gifts Signal A Transactional America
- David Frum argues Trump's acceptance of foreign gifts and personal deals signals a shift from rule-based U.S. leadership to transactional power.
- This change erodes America's symbolic authority and makes it resemble an extractive, predatory past rather than a rules-driven partner.
Authority Is Losing, Not Just Power
- Frum says American power may remain, but the American idea — moral authority, legitimacy, and leadership by consent — is ebbing.
- He warns that acting without allies or law turns the U.S. into a historical predator rather than a civilization builder.
Order Needs Powerful Parties
- Margaret MacMillan emphasizes stable international order requires major powers' commitment and rule-following.
- She credits U.S. postwar engagement for strengthening institutions by bringing key powers into the system.
