The spectacle of national self sufficiency
For no particular reason, Donald Trump wished Team USA “best of luck” in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup, a tournament hosted across India and Sri Lanka.
Team USA’s roster includes: Monank Patel (captain), Jessy Singh, Andries Gous, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milind Kumar, Shayan Jahangir, Saiteja Mukkamala, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, Mohammad Mohsin, and Shubham Ranjane.
If asked, he would not be able to pronounce anyone’s name correctly and would resort to making fun of it.
Cricket took root in the United States through immigrant leagues and diaspora communities. As evident from the roster, the team is composed entirely of first- and second-generation immigrants from cricket-playing countries such as India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Public language emphasizes borders, internal strength, and national self-containment. The underlying systems that sustain economic growth, technological development, and cultural production remain deeply foreign.
That in itself is the most American thing. The term "melting pot" was used when the U.S. was the envy of the world.
Cultural tightening offers psychological stability during swift change by clearly affirming belonging and authority, helping political leaders secure loyalty. In contrast, structural openness provides tangible benefits: universities hire globally to meet research needs, companies expand internationally to access markets, and sports teams recruit from diaspora networks as talent migrates.
Institutions safeguard these channels since they boost productivity and influence. Public displays of closedness help manage anxiety, while discreet openness maintains power.
Seen through this lens, Trump’s random message does not read as hypocrisy, but routine. The aesthetic of sovereignty coexists with the infrastructure of globalization. One addresses emotion; the other, function.
We will never know who actually posted that, him or his staff. The post wasn’t racist enough.