THERE is no distinction between defying a callous tyrant and boldly upholding the truth in the face of the world’s most powerful populist leader. In some cases, it becomes even more challenging, as enduring trolling and humiliation from followers of populist leaders on social media is not easy.

One must praise Washington’s Episcopal bishop, the Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde, who courageously addressed President Donald Trump during the National Prayer Service last month, after his inauguration. She urged him to extend mercy to marginalised communities, including the LGBTQ community and undocumented migrant workers.

What she had to say did not lead President Trump to reconsider his executive orders, including deportation policies and new immigration regulations. However, her courage will be remembered by those who choose to stand on the right side of history. President Trump appears to remain determined to implement his agenda of reshaping America’s internal and global order, despite resistance to his paradoxical motives.

Deportation flights between the US and Colo­m­bia resumed following a stand-off that shed light on how the Trump administration intends to handle countries resisting the large-scale return of mig­rants. Colombian President Gustavo Petro ini­tially refused to accept two US military planes car­­rying deported migrants, prompting Mr Trump to order 25 per cent tariffs on Colombian exports.

President Trump is shaping a global order based on the principle of ‘might is right’.

The US administration is not only pursuing deportations; it also appears to have plans to uproot people from their homes and lands, which can unleash another wave of global migration. The administration........

© Dawn