American historian Timothy Snyder - an expert on authoritarian regimes - introduced the term "superpower suicide" to describe what Trump is doing to the US. In an interview with CNN, Snyder was blunt: "Instead of a state, we got an oligarchy."

Energy as a gift for Beijing

The key criticism: Trump insists on oil and gas while the world moves to renewables. "Technological transitions are deliberately being missed, especially in energy" - warns Snyder. By favoring fossil fuels, Trump is allegedly handing the keys to the future global leadership market to China.

Systematically demolishing the foundations

Snyder lists blows to the pillars of American power: science, education, allies. "Deliberate alienation of allies, a lost trade war with China, aiding Russia and breaking the international order that America built to be at its center."

NATO is under particular scrutiny. Trump's conditional approach to the alliance fundamentally changes its foundation and signals to adversaries that transatlantic ties are under serious threat.

Fiscal policy? "Entirely impossible" - spending far more than you earn. Is America really killing itself or just testing its own resilience? Snyder thinks the answer is clear.