​​Violence does not exist in a vacuum, and the actions of U.S. immigration enforcement are being watched and judged not just by Americans, but by other countries, the same ones the United States is preparing to welcome for the FIFA World Cup later this year. The world sees that Alex Pretti’s killing was not an isolated incident, coming just 17 days after Renee Good was also fatally shot by ICE. As the U.S. hosts the tournament this summer, one unintended consequence of the Trump administration’s immigration campaign, compounded by growing hostility toward allies, may be that the world simply decides not to come. Twenty years ago, the idea that among a lineup of South Africa, Brazil, Russia, Qatar, and America, the American-hosted World Cup would be the only one boycotted would have been unthinkable.

During the 2024 election, one of Trump’s biggest applause lines was that he’d end the war between Russia and Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office. It fit neatly into the “America First” and “peace-time president” brand his campaign tried to sell. However, 2025 is almost over, and there has been no lasting peace, which is why the war in Ukraine remains one of the biggest thorns in his side. His inability to move the needle on this issue is leading many to wonder, does he lack the patience and vision to lead Ukraine and Russia to a meaningful solution?