America, Pitied Again Abroad

Because I am often in Europe, I watch internationally oriented news broadcasts every day. There may only be a few democratically minded European Union leaders who do not privately despair over the continuing absurd antics of the current Oval Office occupant. During his first term in office, most seemed to consider the man clownish — but clowns are supposed to be funny. From their perspective, Mr. Trump, the president, clearly lacks capability, capacity, and focus, while possessing no diplomatic skills. During the first Trump Administration, the British writer Nate White put the matter this way: “He has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honor, and no grace…” This situation clearly has not improved over time.

Mr. Trump appears to have only a passing acquaintance with the truth, ignores proven science, and condemns media representatives who have the temerity to ask questions concerning a plethora of wide-ranging non-factual and fanciful executive pronouncements. European leaders tend to tolerate him because of his inheritance of the twin cudgels of a large and effective military force, while representing a major trading partner.

Russia is a special case. Vladimir Putin no doubt appreciates the current White House resident. After all, his intelligence services may have had something to do with putting the multiple-bankrupt real estate mogul behind the storied Resolute Desk. From the Kremlin’s perspective, he is a “useful idiot.” Mr. Trump’s seeming unconditional support of a corrupt Kremlin appears to be one of his very few consistent foreign policy positions. Otherwise, the confusion and incompetence that follows Air Force One wherever it flies these days provides some inkling of Moscow’s success in bringing America low.

Unfortunately, Mr. Trump’s only regular supporters in the international community are right-wing tyrants. While support such as this may have been US foreign policy in the distant past, it was a position taken to contain Communism. What is America’s excuse now?

Those heady days appear to be all but gone. What made America truly great could always be found in its foundational instruments: The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Because of the aspirations found within these keystone documents, Europeans formerly embraced the US as the “leader of the free world.” From their perspective, this president has surrendered that long-standing, hard-won, and honorable appellation with an “America First” doctrine, which is wholly transactional.

There was a time when America pursued the goal of attempting to become better than the sum of its disparate parts. Sadly, the nation has been shoved off that pedestal by a self-absorbed bully, braggart, and fool. The leadership of the European Union looks on in muted horror as Mr. Trump veers from one disastrous decision to the next, while blaming everyone but himself.

The bottom line: Few trust him. Where there is no trust, there is nothing but naked self-interest and personal gain. Is this what America stands for now? An article in the Irish Times during Trump’s initial stint in the White House by Fintan O’Toole states, “The world has loved, hated and envied the U.S. Now for the first time, we pity it.” The reason: “Donald Trump.” This is again a pity indeed.

** This article was revised and updated from a piece that appeared first in the Tampa Bay Times and was later republished in Press Reader.

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*** Editor’s Note: If you liked this article, you’d definitely want to check out Bob’s latest book: Surviving the United Nations – A True Story of Violence, Corruption, Betrayal, and Redemption.