Thursday 12 July 2018

Trump doesn't like Europeans

Two days of summiteering in Brussels and now in London for a four-day trip, it is becoming increasingly clear that Donald Trump just doesn't have time for Europeans, especially whingeing ones. He much prefers dangerous, non-democratic leaders like Kim Jong-un, Vladimir Putin and Recep Erdogan of Turkey. Europeans are boring in his view and insufficiently respectful. Trump made a great show of affection and comradeship with Emanuel Macron in the early days, but since that great moment on Bastille Day when Trump and Macron sat together to watch the military parade in Paris, the French president has made a few almost unfriendly-type comments about the US president which has turned the relationship a little sour. During the Nato summit in Brussels yesterday and today, Trump, to everyone's relief, did not say the alliance should be broken up but he was pretty rude to everyone. Basically he has no one among the alliance nations whom he likes/trusts/wants to play golf with, and he doesn't care one bit. He obviously doesn't enjoy their company and probably spent most of the time looking forward to his meeting in Helsinki with "Poot'n" next week. Trump will no doubt put on the charm with Theresa May because his advisers will have reminded him that the UK and US have a "special" relationship. But I don't believe he wants to spend hours in her company. Compare Trump's way of doing diplomatic business with, say Bill Clinton. Clnton and Tony Blair, for example, were "mates". They got on really well and had a laugh. Maggie Thatcher and Ronald Reagan got on really well, although there was no lovey-dovey as there was between Bill and Tony. Trump enjoys having no mates. That way, he is beholden to no one and can be rude to everyone. By the way he won't be rude to the Queen. There is no way he is going to say or do anything to upset Her Majesty. I'm writing this with my fingers crossed!

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