Walking a fine line on the Trump divide
So Bill English has struck up a budding ‘‘bromance’’ with Donald Trump by the sounds of things.
Whether you think this is good or bad probably depends on where you sit on the political, and increasingly social, divides.
White House insiders reported, following the pair’s phone call last week, their relationship started on the right foot.
They noted English beginning the conversation by discussing the Superbowl, and the golfing prowess of our very own Sir Bob Charles, as ‘‘setting the tone for an amicable conversation’’.
It is essential that New Zealand is able to deal amicably with the world’s greatest superpower and our most powerful ally. Diplomacy is important, so the ability to get on with its controversial new leader is a plus.
However, it’s a path that English will have to negotiate carefully. Whether you agree with his politics or not, it’s obvious that Trump is a strong-willed leader, used to getting his own way. Some would call him a bully.
The only thing worse than the schoolyard bully is the weakling that suckles up beside them, basking in the reflected power their friendship with the alphabully provides.
The weakling is almost always found out – usually when they fall out of favour with, or especially when they try to stand up to, their rather nasty protector.
The last thing you’d want to do is set yourself up in that particular role. The reports noted that English’s conversation with Trump ‘‘remained friendly even after English raised New Zealand’s opposition to Trump’s Muslim ban.’’
English has already been on the receiving end of some criticism over a perceived ‘‘weak’’ reaction to the ban. His phone call with Trump, smacks just a little of fawning to the bully, before adding: ‘‘Of course, I wouldn’t ever want to beat someone up like that’’. That’s hardly going to give a bully much pause for thought, is it?
And of course, bullies are usually pretty expert manipulators, and they have a nose for weakness second to none. Let’s hope that a perceived weakness isn’t the subtext behind Trump’s apparent warming to Bill.
Not everyone, by a long shot, will disapprove of aligning our country alongside Trump. Anyone who is honest will know that the same divisions now in full view in America also exist here. But the weeks since Trump’s election have made it clear the division between the two sides is wide. Even if some of the worldwide media coverage around Trump smacks a little of liberal hysteria, it’s indicative of just how entrenched positions are.
The leader of the party that has rather made a feast out of ‘middle New Zealand’ may quickly find that with Trump there’s no middle ground to sit on.
If that happens, what side will our country find itself on? What side will we want to find ourselves on? And will there be enough time to change?