Saturday, 5 August 2023
What would Trump be like as the 47th president?
I think it is fair to predict that if Donald Trump becomes president again in November next year, he will feel he has carte blanche to do exactly what he wants from the White House for his second four years. If he was a man of vision and moral rightness and democratic values this would give him an immense opportunity to do good both for the United States of America and for the world. But his critics and enemies and observers of his first four years in office say his track record indicates he will use his power in a way that will benefit him personally and his businesses to the detriment of his fellow citizens. And that he might launch into some foreign policy decisions that will endanger, not make safer, the rest of the planet. He has already promised to end the war in Ukraine in his first day in office. Really? How does he propose to do that? One phone call to his friend Vladimir, and the Russian president will back down? Surely only if there is a massive quid pro quo which allows Putin to claim an historic victory. Just like Trump did with the Taliban! And what would Trump do about China and Taiwan? Try the Trump charm offensive like he did with Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader? That was all Hollywood but no substance. For Trump to overcome all of his present legal problems - the three indictments with more to come - and then win the Republican nomination AND beat Biden into the ground? He would feel like the Emperor with a full wardrobe. He could do things that would have long-term consequences, like extracting America from Nato and leaving Europe to fend for itself. He threatened to do it before his first term in office but in the end came round. Would he come round if he becomes president again? He absolutely might not. It is probably time Europe and all of America's allies started planning for the worst scenario. With Trump back in the White House not even the most brilliant soothsayer could predict what might happen.
Scary indeed. Let’s hope the American people are not so blind that they can’t see. They would not be forgiven by any other nation in the NATO family of nations. The US would be lost forever as principled brokers for peace ( which they still could be).
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