The Reshaping of America

THE RESHAPING OF AMERICA

President Trump’s style is authoritarian but as long as he operates within the constraints of the Constitution many beneficial reforms can take place.  Born during a Sun/Uranus conjunction near the Midheaven, President Trump is at the height of his self-fulfillment as transiting Uranus moves over his Midheaven for the third and final time in March 2025.  This is a month of shock and uncertainty.  Major government overhaul and a shakeup in alliances this month create chaos, especially in the business sector, stock market, and international relationships.  No matter how divisive, Trump’s independence, impulsiveness, and rebellious tendencies will not be held back.  He posted on Truth Social, “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.”  Attributed to Napoleon, this statement suggests his intent to be above the law for the good of the country.  A constitutional crisis between the President and the Supreme Court is coming – but even this may not decide the matter for Trump may refuse to follow any court order.  Yes, it possibly comes to this.

Trump is the leader needed to shake America’s foundation and set the nation to new heights.  America is 248 years old, a Moon year in my Diurnal Planet for a Year Direction, implying a pliable and receptive public.  Mars is trine the Moon in America’s horoscope.  The position of Mars near the Midheaven of government inclines us to strong, militant leaders that have revamped American policies and set off new cultural mores.  Our founding under George Washington was one such time.  Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, F.D. Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, and Ronald Reagan each shaped America in unique and profound ways that had lasting impact.  The speed and nature of government revision today, however, is unprecedented.  The only other time mass layoffs and resignations took place was in the 1950s when communism infiltrated America and Sen. Joseph McCarthy ignited a movement to rid the country of all subversives.  The result was the loss of valuable human resources and the longest-lasting episode of political repression in American history.  Even the New Deal era or post-WWII, where government roles and structures underwent significant changes, can’t compare to the Trump “Make America Great Again” revolution.  The rapid changes in tech and global dynamics today make MAGA a unique movement.  But the same fear that kept people quiet during McCarthyism is happening today.

Transits to the President’s horoscope and those to the U.S. raise several questions.  The rapid dismantling of government personnel appears to be across the board without consideration of the workforce needed to do essential tasks.  Institutions, like the Education Department, cannot be eliminated by Presidential order; it takes an act of Congress to change Departments.  But cripple the workforce and stop the flow of new funding and the agency is crippled.  The public voted for government waste, inefficiency, and unnecessary services to stop.  This takes a surgical, studied approach rather than Musk wielding a chainsaw.  Adjustments to initial policy will surely be made as political and economic pressures push back against unstable results.  A necessary agency, for instance, cannot perform its function without an adequate workforce.  Many months of turmoil and uncertainty remain however as the MAGA movement unveils wave after wave of reform measures.   Not until March 2026 will things settle down.

It appears that Trump and his team want a compliant government.  During Trump’s first term his cabinet picks represented highly skilled individuals with varying ideas and viewpoints.  One by one they resigned or were replaced if objecting to the leader.  Now Trump has a packed cabinet of mostly loyalists, several of whom lack experience for their post, making one wonder if fealty to the leader is more important than job qualification.  Pairing government down to essential services is what the founding fathers had in mind all along.  Rooting out waste and inefficiency is also a good thing.  Why then were seventeen Inspectors General fired?  These independent watchdogs for the past 45 years, established after Watergate, keep an eye out for government fraud and waste by protecting whistle blowers.  By law, they cannot be fired unless for specific reasons.  None were given.  Supposedly, they harbored liberal mindsets not in tune with the Trump agenda.  Other oversight offices have been terminated as well.  Trump also announced that he will pick the press corps, the news agencies reporting daily events.  The White House Correspondents’ association usually handles this chore and includes a variety of the main press like Reuters and the Associated Press and national news networks.  Now only those agencies that report news favorable to Trump are allowed to attend the daily press question and answer sessions.  This raises concerns as does firing the lawyers charged with resisting illegal presidential orders.  Trump also fired the three “judge advocates general” responsible for managing the Army, Navy, and Air Force.  Secretary of Defense Hegseth explained the JAGs were let go to prevent them from being “roadblocks to anything that happens.”  Trump has established bureaucratic conformity over original thinking in the intelligence services, the Justice Department, the FBI, and recently the Pentagon with the removal of Gen. Brown for no apparent reason.  His replacement is Gen. Dan Caine, a MAGA loyalist.  The pursuit of total power allows for a makeover of America – for the better as Trump promised – without interference from liberals, watchdogs, and agencies overseeing public trust.  Curiously, there are parallels in history to this kind of thing; like Vicktor Orban, Prime Minister to Hungry, leader since 2010 and also from 1998-2002; and more notoriously, Adolf Hitler.

Trump’s admiration for the tough guy, his aggressive tactics to get what he wants, has both helped and hurt him in his life.  With Mars and Pluto rising and his Sun/Uranus conjunction in the 10th place (house), Trump is a dictator at heart; he leads by his rules, bending or breaking the law when it suits his needs.  As leader of the country, we trust that his motives and decisions are in the nation’s best interest.  His threats, tariffs, sanctions, and enticements have moved nations to change their ways.  He is making waves and moving things around.  Funding NATO, for example, was largely done by the U.S. until Trump pressured European nations to pay their full share. And on the home front so many changes and proposals will be made between January and June it is rather confusing as to what end.  The proposed change in how U.S. economic data is measured could be to improve accuracy – or to manipulate perceptions of the economy and various industries.  President Trump has recently proposed several changes for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).  One of the key changes involves an Executive Order titled “Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies,” which aims to extend presidential control over independent agencies like the FCC.  This move is intended to align the FCC’s agenda more closely with the president’s priorities.  President Trump has also proposed significant changes to how U.S. economic data is measured.  One of the key changes involves disbanding the Federal Economic Statistics Advisory Committee (FESAC), which provided expert feedback on economic measurement and data. This move could reduce the quality of official statistics and transparency, potentially enabling political interference in economic data.  Additionally, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced plans to alter the measurement of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by excluding government spending from the official estimates.  This change could downplay the economic impact of federal budget cuts and layoffs, making the economy appear healthier than it actually is.

There’s a whole lot of trust going on here.  Remember the storming of the Capitol on January 6, the unproven allegations of a rigged election, fake electors, and other crimes and misdemeanors during Trump’s last term in office.  Don’t believe everything that Trump says either.  He is a perpetual liar, poor communicator, and illusionist that uses linguistics to beguile and confuse his true intensions.  I applaud much of what Trump is doing.  But my conservative mind is suspicious.  There are wondrous signs in the heavens of a technological renaissance taking place from 2025-2032.  Trump plays a significant role in all this – reducing regulations, spurring new avenues of commercial growth, and restructuring government more like a corporation.  Perhaps his relationship with Elon Musk and the effect his policies have on other plutocrats orchestrates the rapid advancement in scientific, technological, and industrial developments to a level far surpassing anything seen before.  Punctuating this new age of discovery and advancement is, however, a time of upheaval and savagery.  The coming revolution may not be political or cultural but rather patriotic.  Patriotic conservatives, moderates, and liberals may form ranks to defy a high-handed government.  In 1776 our ancestors fought for freedom against British tyranny.  Eighty-four years later in 1860 States fought each other over economic (slavery) and cultural reasons.  In 1944 America fought against worldwide dictatorship.  In 2028 we will fight again.

March 2025 is difficult.  Transiting Saturn is opposite Neptune in the U.S. chart while Neptune crosses the Descendant.  Alienation and confusion of allies is one interpretation.  The public deceived is another.  The Ascendant is the people in Mundane Astrology.  Transiting Saturn to Neptune indicates betrayal.  Many of the federal workers let go have contributed to the betterment of the nation and may still be needed if their jobs are necessary and now understaffed, the National Park Service, for instance.  The farmers and businesses that are being hurt by the tariff war is another matter of public sacrifice (Neptune/Ascendant).  And Europe is left to wonder if America will support them as before.  They must surely know that we will not and must prepare for their own defense.  China and Russia keep their cards hidden for now and Iran is in danger of a military strike as soon as April or later if they do not agree to a new nuclear deal.  Such an arrangement is unlikely in April-May, but possible in June.

Trump uses tariffs like his rhetoric – to confuse, intimidate, and pressure – to get what he wants.  Tariffs can backfire.  And for this reason they are not favored as an engine for economic development except to protect specific industries, like the car industry from China’s inexpensive autos.  Widespread tariffs will lead to retaliatory tariffs, hurting America and the world economy.  Unfortunately, this is exactly what Neptune transiting the U.S. Descendant is all about – an unproductive and futile exchange of tit-for-tat.  Saturn next crosses the Descendant 5/19 of this year indicating the height of a tariff war.  And if all this holds true in the rectified chart then November and January-February 2026 correlate with more unsettling developments regarding international friends and foes, the price of food, housing, and construction.  The Neptune and Saturn transits over the U.S. Descendant also point to resistance, fear, and a few carefully made agreements and strategies that are productive.  Tariffs might prove to be a gamble of wills.  Lowering them and eliminating the most harmful in June can lift spirits spurring growth.  Yet Neptune and Saturn return to the Descendant a second and third time foreboding ill-will between America and many other nations.  In a nutshell, Trump’s tariffs will devastate the economy.

What President Trump rightfully wants is for manufacturing jobs and investment to move back into the U.S.  U.S. companies have been offshoring operations for decades, but it really picked up in the late 20th century with globalization and trade agreements.  The trend has continued, driven by factors like lower labor costs and tax advantages abroad.  By creating tax incentives and tariff reasons for U.S. companies to return to the U.S., wages here will increase and ‘Made in America’ will appear on the majority of labels again.  Trump is using economic pressure (tariffs) to muscle Canada, Mexico, the EU and China (plus many other countries around the world) to agree to his demands.  This authoritarian behavior may benefit America in the long run at the expense of trading partners and lost opportunities in now closed markets in the short term, damaging the U.S. consumer and economy.  This is not the way of balance, peace or harmony.

The U.S.-Canada trade agreement has generally been favorable to both countries, including the U.S.  It has boosted trade, economic growth, and created jobs by reducing barriers such as tariffs.  The agreement has also strengthened the North American supply chain, making both economies more competitive globally.  Of course, there are always debates on specific aspects, but overall, it’s been viewed as beneficial.

Likewise, the U.S.-EU trade relationship has generally been mutually beneficial, fostering economic growth, innovation, and job creation on both sides of the Atlantic through open markets and shared standards.  It’s not without disagreements, but overall, it’s been a positive arrangement.

So exactly what is going on?  Trump says Canada and Mexico have been ripping us off through unfair trade agreements.  But Trump played a significant role in negotiating and promoting a major trade agreement during his first term called the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), which replaced NAFTA.  It updated trade relations, aiming to modernize trade practices among the three countries.  The USMCA was signed on November 30, 2018, and came into force on July 1, 2020.  The USMCA has been a focal point in discussions leading up to its 2026 review. It has impacted critical areas like supply chain diversification, electric vehicles, and AI leadership.  Recently, Trump criticized the USMCA, particularly the free trade of electricity with Canada, which he had previously negotiated in the agreement.  He’s also imposed new tariffs on Canadian goods like steel, aluminum, and electricity, expressing concerns about trade imbalances.  It’s a shift in his stance, considering he once praised the USMCA as a significant accomplishment.  Uranus transiting President Trump’s Midheaven of leadership is a clear sign of his willingness to disrupt the status quo, seed discord and uncertainty, and pave an erratic way forward toward a new age of discovery, advancement, and governance.