In recent weeks, President Donald Trump has launched a series of controversial announcements that have captured the public's attention. From the idea of changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the proposal to take back control of the Panama Canal, to the elimination of birthright citizenship and the declaration of English as the official language. However, these announcements seem to be part of a distraction strategy rather than a real political agenda. The real question is: what is he trying to distract public opinion from?

Donald Trump has proven to be a master at managing the public agenda. Throughout his political career, he has used inflammatory statements to redirect the conversation towards issues that favor his image and reinforce the support of his electoral base. Recent announcements seem to follow the same tactic: divert attention away from economic problems, immigration crises, international conflicts and legal questions.

What's really going on

1) One of the issues that Trump seeks to minimize is the impact of his protectionist policy and his recent tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada. These have generated international tensions and could have serious consequences for the U.S. economy, increasing costs for consumers and affecting key industrial sectors. Meanwhile, inflation remains a concern, and Trump's actions could worsen the situation rather than improve it.

Many experts and market players themselves have already begun to question his decisions on these fronts. They believe that another issue that will complicate the economic future is his decision to cut taxes with the promise of a cut in government spending that seems more complex to implement than Elon Musk himself believes. For example, The Supreme Court rejected Trump's executive order seeking to freeze foreign aid. Bottom line: the economy is some of the most important stuff going on right now.

2) Trump has also intensified his immigration policies, implementing mass deportations and tightening conditions for asylum seekers. He has removed previous restrictions on making arrests in sensitive locations such as schools and hospitals, which has generated alarm in the Hispanic community and among human rights groups. While the media focus is on his controversial announcements, these measures go unnoticed by much of the public. On the other hand, it is clear that any immigration policy will not solve the problem of the illegal immigration of more than 11 million citizens of other countries. Even if it succeeds in expelling two million illegal migrants from the country, most of the problem will remain unresolved. In conclusion: Trump knows that he will not be able to show a triumph in one of the policies he promised and which catapulted him to power again.

3) On the global stage, the war in Ukraine remains a point of tension. While French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that Russia poses a direct threat to Europe, Trump has taken an ambiguous stance. His administration has initiated direct talks with Russia for a possible peace deal, which has raised concerns in the European Union about possible concessions detrimental to Ukraine. In parallel, Europe is moving to strengthen its defensive autonomy with military investment plans and new security strategies. The war in the Middle East has also tested U.S. diplomacy. Trump has adopted a position of firm support for Israel, demanding the release of hostages in Gaza and threatening severe consequences for Hamas if they do not comply with his demands. Surprisingly, his administration has also initiated direct negotiations with Hamas, a move that has generated criticism both in Washington and abroad. In addition, Trump has proposed the relocation of the Palestinian population and the reconstruction of Gaza under a "Middle East Riviera" model, which has been labeled by the UN as "ethnic cleansing."

Trump's bet on international relations is very aggressive and has shown in some episodes that it also has as an underlying problem the fiscal problem facing the country, since the participation of the United States in many of these conflicts has been very costly. In conclusion: Donald Trump's aggressive bet on conflict fronts may be very costly in diplomatic terms with some traditional allies. For example, Europe.

The ends and the means

Beyond the flashy headlines, the reality is that the United States is in a transformative moment. With a strained economy, extreme immigration policies, changing international relations and a well-executed political distraction strategy, the country faces critical challenges. President Trump appears to be applying the "ends justify the means" thesis. That, however, may come at a great cost to him.

Citizens and representative social actors must look beyond the outrageous statements and question what is really happening in the Trump administration. While controversial announcements dominate the conversation, substantive decisions could define the future of the country and its position in the world.