Year of the Trump
If there was one individual in the world who secured more attention than any other in 2017, it had to be US President Donald Trump. But it wasn’t because of outstanding things that he did rather it was more about the controversial, if not dangerous, decisions he made that has impact on world peace.
Sworn in as leader of the Free World on January 20, 2017, the Don has brought the US to near isolation as he has picked up fights with the leaders of countries not to his liking such as North Korea and Iran. He stoked once more the fire of anti-American sentiment by announcing the transfer of the US Embassy to Jerusalem.
North Korea has long been “Enemy No. 1” for the United States as the communist state continues to defy warnings not to pursue its nuclear program. With the accessibility of social media, the exchanges between Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un have become personal, if not childish. In his latest tweet, Trump mocked Kim by boasting that he has a “bigger and more powerful” nuclear button than the North Korean supreme leader.
Taking cue on the street protests in Iran, the US president accused Iranian leaders of corruption and supporting terrorism, hinting support for a change in government. While the previous administration of Barack Obama offered an olive branch through the Iran nuclear accord allowing better engagement with Tehran, Trump did everything within his power to dismantle Obama’s legacy.
But the worst act of Trump in 2017 was declaring Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, sparking worldwide anger and placed the US alone in a corner in the UN Security Council. In a vote of 14-1, the council called for the withdrawal of the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Only the US voted against the resolution, a clear failure in US diplomacy. The symbolic Uncle Sam as the ugly American is now personified by the current occupant of the White House.
European leaders have lost faith in the US as an arbiter for peace, as a trade partner, and as an ally in combating climate change. British Prime Minister Theresa May publicly criticized Trump for retweeting un-verified videos from a far-right group featuring Muslims committing acts of violence, saying “It is wrong for the president to have done this.” German Chancellor Angela Merkel rebuked Trump several times on the latter’s proposal for the US to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement with Germany. French President Emmanuel Macron has even called Trump “irresponsible” for rejecting the Iran nuclear deal.
The Donald Trump Show may have high audience rating, but it is becoming a horrible display of arrogance, ignorance and indiscretion.