Trump determined to burn down the house with petty scorched earth exit
THERE were few things anyone could predict with any certainty about this year’s US Presidential Election but a Donald Trump temper tantrum in the event he lost was one of them. Never one to disappoint his fans, The Donald has indeed thrown his expensive toys out of his gold-plated pram and in so doing he has once again thrown his country into chaos.
It now appears almost certain – barring the mother of all legal miracles for the President’s increasingly lunatic lawyers – that Donald Trump will be departing the Oval Office on January 20 next year.
After four dismal years of constant scandal – and a level of incompetence that would have been humorous were it not so deadly – America and the world must only endure two more months of Trump’s ‘ leadership’.
But what a few months they are set to be. Like a nightmare tenant, Trump and his cronies have set about vandalising the house before they are forced to hand back the keys.
They haven’t quite set light to the White House curtains but they are holding a touchpaper to the country’s constitution and they appear entirely willing to burn down some of the USA’s most cherished institutions before they flee to Florida.
In recent weeks Trump has made some concessions – though not an actual concession – by untying the hands of the US’ General Services Administration and allowing work to begin on the transition to the Biden administration.
However, Trump and his allies in the Senate and Congress are still making things difficult and it could be well into next year – at best – before Joe Biden has his full team in place.
Such domestic matters may seem relatively trivial outside the US but they are crucially important and will have a major knock on effect far outside US’ borders.
With the US set to play such an influential part in the potential roll out of a Covid vaccine it is crucial that the US health service and its pandemic response is restored after the denial and dysfunction of the Trump presidency.
In Irish terms, the support of a functioning and responsible State Department will be vital if we are to ensure peace on our island – and guarantee our economic interest – post Brexit.
Negotiating the future of trade and travel in a post pandemic world and the growing challenges of climate change will also need a cogent US presence at the table.
Trump’s petty intransigence, though not in the least surprising, threatens all of this and it is only likely to get worse as inauguration day and his long awaited eviction gets nearer.
Brighter times are ahead but, as the old saying goes, the night is often darkest before the dawn. The United States and the world should be prepared for two grim months.
Trump – a wounded animal whose incredible ego has just taken a very public hammering – has always been capable of anything. One can only imagine what final odious trick he has hidden up those long, ill fitting sleeves.