That's not what's happening. The theory that the builders of Empire were the ones that understood it, and the inheritors of Empire are true believers in the false justification the builders gave and thus defeat itself when given the reigns is coming more and more true.

The Nazis were also extremely incompetent when I came to stuff like this. Hitler had generals scrambling behind his back to produce their best weapon, but he kept finding out and making them stop along with tons of other micromanaging.

Trump is an idiot and so is musk. Most business people are short sighted and fascists even more. They also may be high on their own farts and think the system won't collapse with them "in charge" like a toddler left in s room full of candles and napalm.

Not saying that foreign powers aren't loving this, but they don't have to have control over it.

Americans try not to scapegoat foreigners for their own domestic problems challenge (impossible).

That's right, be sure to check for communists under your bed everyone!

TBH, I think that's giving too much credit to those in charge. They don't want to be China's or Russia's puppet. They imagine themselves the puppeteers (whether that's true or not).