America is on ‘Corrupt-Tok’. What does this mean?

America, the leader of the free world, has fallen from its ranks, as indicated by the country’s new presence on ‘Corrupt-Tok’. ‘Corrupt-Tok’ refers to a Tik Tok trend that trivialises and satirises corruption present in nations, with a focus on African countries. For example, they will give a comic twist to the underhand dealings of politics, producing memes that explain that there is a lack of funds for education by joking it was diverted for a president’s birthday. Social media trends, whilst they can perpetuate false news and exaggerated current affairs, contain insight into current political perceptions and attitudes. Now, America is becoming an increasingly frequent interloper on ‘Corrupt-Tok’. This significant change in the geographical scope of this social media trend reflects recent fractures in American politics. It reveals the corruptive patterns that are encroaching steadily into America, and that public opinion more and more associates the nation with corrupt notions. This prompts us to question if America is still a pioneer in fields such as liberty and democracy. Do the memes of the Statue of Liberty walking out of America hold weight?

Over the last century, America has curated an impressive expanse of power and a sphere of prestige. The USA has been praised for its significant role in international organisations such as the UN and NATO, as well as its groundbreaking cultural movements influencing music and fashion. The country has dominated in economies internationally, military resources, and culture, unmatched by any other. America’s ‘rags to riches’ story, which encompasses narratives of social mobility and a true meritocracy (however flawed this may be) has intertwined ideals of liberty and success into the nation’s identity through the American dream. This has made it one of the most desirable countries to immigrate to, to work in, or to be an ally with. However, this is being strongly dismantled under Trump. Now, memes are spreading on ‘Corrupt-Tok’ regarding Trump giving ‘friends’ political power (such as Musk) and how Trump is being lobbied through his Bitcoin, where one can anonymously donate money. These may be presented satirically but they highlight serious potential issues of nepotism and bribery under the Trump administration.

American news often dominates mainstream media; however, recent headlines have detailed unreasonable actions and abuses of power. The nation’s occurrence on the news has felt almost dystopian. With each story, seemingly eroding the liberal democratic practices of America. The Trump administration is bringing truth to the statement that ‘a week is a long time in politics’ with respect to incidents such as Trump’s 26 executive orders, Trump’s mishandling of Zelensky, ICE’s unlawful treatment of detained residents, America’s leaked military plans, and the list goes on. The political stability of the USA seems to be breaking down. Whilst democracy is a long-standing political system, it is built on convention and traditions almost as much as it is shaped by constitutions and policies. Therefore, Trump’s extensive use of executive power demonstrates the fragility of American democracy.

Whilst Trump’s actions remain unpredictable, it can be recognised that his administration has left a fresh stain on the history and future of America’s democracy, prolonging the nation’s presence on ‘Corrupt-Tok’.