[T-Bone Texan]

"...This has led American elites to believe ..."

Let's stop right there.

No such thing as "American elites".

Elites are by definition transnational. They owe allegiance to no country, and have business interests in many countries, not just one.

What the author calls American elites could more accurately called the donor class in American politics.

[PIF]

elite (redirected from elites) Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia. Related to elites: IELTS e·lite or é·lite (ĭ-lēt′, ā-lēt′) n. pl. elite or e·lites or élite or é·lites 1. a. A group or class of persons considered to be superior to others because of their intelligence, social standing, or wealth: "Auguste Comte ... believed that in the age of science society should be ruled by an elite of scientists" (Lewis A. Coser). b. A member of such a group: "Elites don't grant us [sociologists] interviews. They don't let us hang out at their country clubs" (Sudhir Venkatesh). c. The best or most skilled members of a group: the elite of professional tennis. Do not see anything about 'transnational.' Must be in the fine print.