We're THAT nightmare neighborThe frightening parallels between Trump's and Putin's disrespect for borders could foreshadow disaster for Canada, Greenland - and America
Friend, Most of us were taught from a young age that America is the leader of the “good guys”—we defend freedom, defeat Nazis, stand up for what’s right and good. And while things may be a bit more complicated than that, those ideas are at the root of a national identity that makes millions of us proud. I think that’s what makes America’s transformation into a nightmare neighbor and unreliable ally even harder: it’s not who we are, or, at least, who we’re supposed to be. And yet, we find ourselves in an unfortunate [and God help us, passing] phase in which we’re behaving insufferably. Can you imagine your neighbor waking up one morning, leaning over the fence, and claiming your backyard is actually theirs… because the fence between your houses was just "an artificial line" drawn a long time ago. You'd probably laugh at first—it’s so absurd, they must be joking! But what if they kept saying it—and even started acting like your yard was theirs? This movement is member-supported. To receive our one weekly email of action items, sign up below to stay plugged in. This isn't some silly made-up story. This bullying is happening right now on our own border and far more acutely in Ukraine. When Vladimir Putin decided to invade his neighbor, he told the world Ukraine isn't a real country. He said Ukrainians and Russians were really just one people who spoke the same language and belonged together. In July 2021, Putin wrote a long essay claiming that Ukraine was a mistake created by the Soviet Union. He argued, "Modern Ukraine was entirely created by Russia, more precisely, Bolshevik, communist Russia." He insisted Ukraine never had a real tradition of statehood and said its true place was alongside Russia. That's exactly how he justified launching a devastating war in Ukraine in 2022. Now think about what Donald Trump has said about Canada and Greenland. Trump openly called the border between the U.S. and Canada "just an artificial line that was drawn in the sand or in the ice." He repeatedly said that Canada could become America's 51st state and even called Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a "governor," implying Canada wasn't really independent, and that it’s leader was inferior to himself. Trump has also repeatedly said that America will get Greenland — another nearby neighbor that is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark, a NATO ally — “one way or another”, ignoring the fact that neither Greenland nor Denmark wish to surrender its sovereignty. An uninvited American delegation, including Second Lady Usha Vance, is heading to Greenland this week, a move that Greenland’s Prime Minister is calling a “very aggressive American pressure against the Greenlandic community.” If America’s treatment of Canada and Greenland sounds familiar, it's because it's strikingly similar to Putin's claims about Ukraine. Both Trump and Putin suggest neighboring countries aren't fully legitimate or independent. Both treat borders as others’ mistakes rather than serious agreements that keep peace. Trump and Putin both act like bigger, stronger nations can simply take over smaller neighbors—whether by war or purchase—ignoring what the people living there actually want. This kind of thinking isn’t just indicative of a shitty neighbor. It's dangerous. Putin's words turned into violent actions in Ukraine, devastating millions of lives. And while Trump's similar rhetoric hasn't started a war, thankfully, it has deeply worried allies and neighbors. When powerful leaders talk about borders and national identities as if they don't matter, they're promoting ideas that can easily lead to conflict—and in Putin’s case, have already been used to justify it. They encourage seeing other countries as objects to be claimed, not respected partners. After what we've seen in Ukraine, it's clear we can't afford to ignore such dangerous ideas closer to home, or write them off as jokes. It’s not just about doing the right thing, it’s how we remember who we really are. Brightly, Austin
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As someone who served in the White House during a national crisis, I understand the sacred responsibility of handling classified information. I've been in the Situation Room numerous times throughout my career, discussing sensitive policy decisions and planning intelligence and military operations. I've witnessed first-hand the consequences of breached … a day ago · 456 likes · 30 comments · Olivia of Troye Upcoming EventsIf you’re in the Virginia Beach area this weekend, our friend Senator Mark Warner is hosting a Community Conversation on March 29th at 10am. It’s an important time to hear from the Ranking Member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Click here to register. That’s it for today—thank you for reading this far 🔆🇺🇸Help us fuel lawsuits against Elon Musk’s unlawful actions, host high-profile town halls in red districts, and launch cutting-edge AI targeting and messaging tools to break through to disengaged Americans. You’ll never be required to donate in order to be part of Bright America, but an investment of ANY size adds up to a huge impact when enough of us put some money where our minds and hopes are. © 2025 Bright America |