War of words
Re: Canada defends G7 efforts. Marie-Danielle Smith, June 11
When Donald Trump was running for president he said he would negotiate unconventionally and not negotiate in the press. The former is true. The latter, not so much.
Whether negotiating with allies or dictatorships, he has shown by his twittering that he can keep everyone unsure of what he will say or do next and unsure of what is at risk or who he will turn on. As a tactic, it works. Spokespeople for other countries and sometimes his own are caught off guard. In virtually every case, they find that speaking for Trump or even anticipating his next move or utterance is folly. Unless and until he speaks or acts with finality, he is unpredictable. And just as he negotiated as a businessman, he wields the biggest stick.
While one might quarrel with his style or his stated “America First!” goal, one cannot deny that he is committed to changing the past if he thinks the United States has got the short end of the deal.
What better way to achieve his outcomes than appearing inconsistent, noncommittal and critical of others to put them off their game. It worked in business and seems to be working in politics. Our own Prime Minister is the most recent to find that at the G7 he was, to coin a phrase, “Trumped.” Ron Hoffman, Toronto
So Donald Trump thinks Justin Trudeau is “meek and mild” and “very dishonest and week.” I disagree, but I suppose Trump is entitled to his opinion. At least Prime Minister Trudeau isn’t a bully and a pathological liar. Garth M. Evans, Vancouver Very soon, the puffed-up, bellicose POTUS will cease being Justin Trudeau’s problem and will become Kim Jong Un’s. Mr. Trump is Vladimir Putin’s de facto right hand man, creating fracture lines in Western alliances and even trying to pave the way for Russia to insinuate itself back into the community of peace-respecting nations.
Half the GOP made a bet