Donald Trump's second-term trajectory increasingly resembles a manhandling of global affairs, as detailed in Maureen Dowd's analysis. His administration aggressively pursues regime change, from Venezuela to Iran, while simultaneously expanding his personal brand globally. Trump has already branded the U.S. Institute of Peace as the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace, forced his name onto the Kennedy Center, and plans a towering arch near the Lincoln Memorial.

Most significantly, he is set to become the first sitting president to have his signature on U.S. paper currency, a move seen as a bold assertion of his legacy. The Treasury Department's announcement underscores this shift, replacing the female U.S. treasurer's signature with his own. This unprecedented move, coupled with his military posturing and aggressive foreign policy, signals a president operating with unprecedented autonomy and a clear focus on personal and national branding.