Opinion: Arrogance, hubris and ideology: How 2025 capped a quarter century of US failures It is tempting to distill all the chaos, hatred, and blood spilled in 2025 into the small frame of one man: Donald Trump. It is true that Trump richly deserves the accolade of being the worst, but also the most consequential president in modern US history. This president has bombed Iran , allowed Israel to invade Southern Syria , finished the decimation of Gaza and embarked on the annexation of the occupied West Bank . The Emirati- funded and armed ethnic cleansing of Sudan means little to him. A death toll of up to half a million Sudanese is of no consequence. Three months after unveiling his " big beautiful peace plan ",  a reality is established on the ground in Gaza that is its parametrical opposite - an ugly, petty recipe for war without end. Israel is not even content to leave over 2 million Palestinians in Gaza shivering and starving in tents . When storms flooded them out, Israelis cheered . Read more: Arrogance, hubris and ideology: How 2025 capped a quarter century of US failures by David Hearst US President Donald Trump attends a press conference in Florida on 22 December, 2025 (Reuters)