The 'unraveling of Trump’s mind' is fueling a worldwide 'crackup': NYT editorial

One of the many fears that critics of the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) raids rocking American cities have is a scenario in which some type of armed confrontation between local police officers and well-armed ICE agents occurs. Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal and Philly District Attorney Larry Krasner warned that ICE agent who violate the city's laws will be arrested. And Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara, a critic of ICE tactics during Donald Trump's second presidency, fears that the tense environment in Minneapolis and other cities could go from bad to worse; O'Hara said he dreads the "moment where it all explodes."

The New York Times' David Brooks, in his January 23 column, says of O'Hara's "explodes" comment, "I share his worry." But Brooks' column is much broader than ICE raids. Brooks fears that an international "crackup" or "unraveling" is occurring in a variety of ways — none of them good.

"If you follow the trajectory of events," Brooks argues, "it's pretty clear that we’re headed toward some kind of crackup. We are in the middle of at least four unravelings. The unraveling of the post-War international order. The unraveling of domestic tranquility wherever Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents bring down their jackboots. The further unraveling of the democratic order, with attacks on Fed independence and — excuse the pun — trumped-up prosecutions of political opponents. Finally, the unraveling of President Trump's mind. Of these four, the unraveling of Trump’s mind is the primary one, leading to all the others."

Brooks warns that during his second presidency, Trump "has been quicker and quicker to resort to violence" both in the United States and abroad.

"In 2025," the conservative-leaning columnist observes, "the U.S. carried out or contributed to 622 overseas bombing missions, killing people in places ranging from Venezuela to Iran, Nigeria and Somalia — not to mention Minneapolis. The arc of tyranny bends toward degradation. Tyrants generally get drunk on their own power, which progressively reduces restraint, increases entitlement and self-focus and amps up risk taking and overconfidence while escalating social isolation, corruption and defensive paranoia."

The Times columnist, however, doesn't believe the U.S. is "headed toward anything like" the fall of the Roman Empire. But he does fear that dark times will be growing even darker.

"Our institutions are too strong, and our people, deep down, still have the same democratic values," Brooks writes. "But I do know that events are being propelled by one man's damaged psyche. History does not record many cases in which a power-mad leader careening toward tyranny suddenly regained his senses and became more moderate. On the contrary, the normal course of the disease is toward ever-accelerating deterioration and debauchery."

David Brooks' full New York Times column is available at this link (subscription required).

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