Overarching the multitude of arguments over America is the fundamental question also of democracy itself. Surveys show that while the US still enjoys enormous goodwill around the world, its international image has sunk.

What is at stake are "basic democratic and constitutional norms and institutions at home; and despite its flaws, the basics of a reasonably open and cooperative multilateral international system," professor of international politics Inderjeet Parmar of the City, University of London told The Straits Times. "We should be building… them, not dismantling and destroying them in favour of white supremacy at home and American unilateralism abroad.