A year on, and Trump is still not fit for purpose
AS WEEKS go, it has been business as usual by Donald Trump’s chaotic standards.
The US government was once again in chaos, this time due to a federal shutdown, more than a million women marched in protest against his presidency, and his ex-pals were being questioned about Russian collusion.
On top of this, his fake news awards proved themselves to be the real phonies, a porn star claimed Trump likes to be spanked with a magazine bearing his own face and according to one US author, he may be cheating on his wife.
All in all, it was pretty standard for Trump who this week celebrates his first 12 months in office and boy what a year it’s been.
There is no doubt Trump makes compulsive viewing. Who hasn’t waited guiltily for his next tweet to see what new calamity he can create?
Given how much rests on Trump’s shoulders, and how ill-suited he is to the presidency, the focus on his character since entering the White House has been both reasonable and necessary, given his actions.
At the time of his inauguration, I expressed disappointment in the bleak and narrow vision he painted, not just for the States, but more importantly the rest of the world.
Standing just 50 yards away from him as he delivered his plans, I heard him vow his administration’s decisions would be governed by interests at home as he made a new declaration of American Independence.
“From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land,” he said.
“From this day forward, it’s going to be only America first – America first.”
At the time the billionaire property speculator sounded like a candidate stuck on the campaign trail rather than a man about to enter the Oval Office.
But a year in, as he celebrates – and most of the world commiserates – his first anniversary in charge, there is no question Trump’s isolationist agenda has set the world back.
Wherever and whenever he steps onto the global stage, he leaves a trail of insults to friends and foes alike.
It could be something as petty as refusing to shake the hand of German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the White House or as reckless as bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war with North Korea.
Couple this with his decisions such as withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, Trump is increasingly bringing America’s historic role as the leader of the free world into question.
His lack of leadership in the White House is matched only in scale by his use of Twitter and his lack of presidential grace.
To think any western leader could have asked, “Why are we having all these people from s**thole countries come here?” referring to Africa, Central America and Haiti, is a moment America should hang its head in shame.
When he expresses such words, Trump not only shows his racism but also undermines the presidency.
There is little wonder why so many not only disagree with his politics but question his fitness for office as revealed by his approval rating. At 38% it is by far the lowest after a year in office of any president elected since World War II.
Trump also seems to have no relationship with the truth.
His flagrant disregard of the facts, petulance over any hint of criticism and his constant attack on any details that don’t fit his narrative as “fake news” is the sort of behaviour you expect in the playground, not the presidency.
A year ago, the newly sworn-in president said: “January 20, 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation once again.”
What transpired on January 20, 2018, was that the world has a man still woefully unprepared for the presidency and unfit to maintain America’s standing as a beacon of freedom and liberty.
Give him another three years and by then he may have the hang of it ...if he lasts that long.