There's Still Room for Poptimism

American Soft Power Durability in an Erratic Era

Lollapalooza, 2022

This isn’t exactly a highpoint of America’s global image. While our domestic politics continue their authoritarian slide, it’s often difficult to see past the near-term turmoil of our frequently grim news. But I still think there’s reason to be optimistic.

While the Trump administration has done damage—and inevitably will do more—much of it can be overcome through the sheer structural advantages that the United States has accumulated over the past century.

American soft power still commands the global heights. If, for example, you look at the current charts—American singers and bands overwhelmingly dominate the top 300 global artists.

Foreign audiences see more of America than just Trump. Even with the daily nihilistic idiocy from our leaders, the world still sees America through other lenses.

Audiences around the world still want Americans to go to their countries and perform, even if tourism to the United States has looked rather grim over the past few months.

Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, and Kendrick Lamar are American emissaries as much as Steve Witkoff is. Trump may succeed in deeply pissing off our closest allies through erratic policies, but their citizens will still listen to be listening to Not Like Us while he threatens their leaders with 40% tariff rates.

The newest generation of American pop stars ensures the continued American domination of the music industry. Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and Doechii, for instance, are all in the top 25 of global artists.

We have a deep bench of popular musicians that will keep going regardless of how precarious our politics become.

While the Trump administration has certainly managed to make the prospect of traveling to America look unappealing, there’s very little they can do to stop Gracie Abrams from dropping a banger.¹ They have attempted to do quite a lot by fiat, but there are (so far) still limits to even this administration.

You can also look at Hollywood, which, despite a diminished market share, still controls 69.5% of the global box office. When people go out to see movies, they’re seeing American films.

The way that Sabrina Carpenter produces a certain connection amongst her fans globally to a particular idea of the United States, a Brad Pitt film likewise does the same.²

Marvel Movies certainly aren’t the blockbusters they used to be, but the top 10 films at the global box office in 2024 were still all products of the United States. Disney, Universal, Warner Bros., and Paramount (not to mention streaming platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime) continue to dominate their field.

All of which allows us to export a cultural image of the United States with a level of exposure that China could only dream of achieving.

The other point here is that while winning the BAFTA is of course nice and all—actors still care about winning an Oscar in the same way that the Grammy remains the premier music award.

What I mean is that the prestige of American cultural output has remained intact despite our political turbulence.

International artists still want to be associated with the recognition conferred by American cultural institutions. Regardless of the cruelty of D.C.—there remains an idea of things that are good and American and separate from our current governance.

There are, of course, endlessly more examples like American technology companies still commanding the global market, but I think you’ve largely gotten my point here.

The cause for optimism is that almost all of Trump’s policies are extremely fragile and easily reversed. Executive Orders have no permanence and can be simply rescinded by a new administration. The priorities and actions of agencies can be refocused by nominating new leadership.

While the mass firings and wholesale (and illegal) closures of entire agencies cut deeper, a dedicated administration willing to work hard can start to rebuild the ranks of the civil service.

The authoritarian turn towards deportations will likely be stemmed through the inability to resource more large-scale activities. The inherent difficulty in rapidly expanding institutions at scale makes it even more doubtful that a worst-case scenario of mass deportations will occur, even if the funding were available.³

In terms of his assaults on colleges and law firms—these are almost certainly illegal, and I have little doubt that the courts will rule against the administration. Short of outright flouting the court system, I think much of this goes nowhere in the end, except wasting the time of DOJ lawyers.⁴

In terms of the irreparable harm that has come from things like ending USAID’s various humanitarian programs or the administration turning away from Ukraine, the best that can be done is to hope that other countries and NGOs step into the void to pick up the slack.

Which brings me to the more tricky aspect of this—and why I think American soft power dominance on a global scale matters—our international relations. Unlike domestic politics, where you can simply enact legislation with your own party (or unilaterally rescind executive orders), you actually need your international partners to agree with you of their own volition.⁵

Shared interests and mutual benefit are certainly core aspects of international agreements, and trust—genuine fraternity between nations also plays an integral role.

In the same way that a bilateral training exercise builds trust and friendship between the servicemembers of two countries and makes military relations easier, cultural affinity affects diplomatic affairs. It can’t do everything, but it makes things easier.

This all gives liberals the footing to correct the damage the Trump administration will wreak on our international relations.

While we’re certainly sowing deep doubt in the statesmen of our friends regarding American credibility, it’ll be easier to repair those relations when there’s a different idea of the United States we can present that isn’t what our current government reflects.

When we go to Korea, Japan, Canada, or Europe after all of this is said and done, we will still be talking with people who spent their summer listening to Post Malone and Morgan Wallen while taking their kids to see A Minecraft Movie.⁶

The ability to pitch the idea that Americans can be trusted again will be easier when foreign politicians can sell to their domestic audiences that the America found in their favorite music and films is a real version of the United States.

An erratic and damaging feud over tariff rates is much easier to roll back when a single Taylor Swift tour is able to boost your country’s GDP after all.

With Trump’s poll numbers already worse than during his first term, the Democrats are almost certain to retake the House in a year, and depending on how much more erratic he becomes, the Senate is a possibility.

It’s not that long from now that the bleeding can be stemmed, and we can start working towards an alternate vision of the United States that other countries will be willing to work with again.

So what I’m telling you to do is go to Lollapalooza this year. Have a few White Claws. Let your friends know that you can sing every word to Espresso. It’s your patriotic duty.

1. Well, not yet at least. I suppose we’ll have to wait to see when the DOJ decides that the American music industry is woke and starts threatening them like they’re an Ivy League college.

2. I’m not accepting any slander of Achilles at this time, and if you have negative opinions concerning the greatest living American actor that’s not Ryan Gosling, I do not want to hear of it. Yes, I know Ryan Gosling is technically Canadian, but he’s literally me, which makes him American.

3. Even with the addition of additional personnel from other agencies, and using local law enforcement, makes all of this extremely dubious. Resources are limited, and it takes time to train personnel, then get them to function in an institution. You can’t just give a guy a badge and think he’s going to do anything effectively.

4. It does, however, still worry me that they will attempt to defy the courts and do something obscenely erratic. However, I still lean towards them not having the political capital to actually attempt to defy courts—especially given how quickly Trump’s approval has collapsed in the polls.

5. Well, I guess, except for compelling an international actor to do something with the use of force. But that’s not what I’m talking about here. I don’t think we should invade Canada to impose Caroline Polachek albums and a 0% tariff rate on them.

6. I still cannot believe how popular this movie was. Who could have possibly known?