Bully for you
Many of America’s allies have been on the receiving end of a Trump tirade. Now it’s Theresa May’s turn again
LONG before Donald Trump was elected, America knew he was bully.
He was, after all, proud to admit it.
In his book The Art of the Deal, Trump boasted how at the age of five he punched his music teacher in the face “because I didn’t think he knew anything about music” before going on to say he is the same now although he admits he likes to use his “brain instead of my fists”.
Throughout his life, his bully boy tactics have allegedly put dozens of family firms out of business after they carried out work for his organisation only for him then to refuse to pay the bill.
Why anyone expected him to be any different in the White House, God only knows.
Back in his school days, his parents argued his tantrums were all part of growing up, but there is nothing resembling child’s play about his bullying on the world stage.
And while he may have tried to strong-arm the likes of North Korea, Iran and now China, all to no avail, it is America’s supposed allies who have suffered the most – none more so than our own Theresa May.
Last week, Trump dispatched Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to the UK but America’s top diplomat was anything but diplomatic, disrespecting the Prime Minister while a guest of Britain. He taunted May as he ramped up the rhetoric against China, invoking the legacy of former PM Margaret Thatcher as he urged the UK to take a tougher line on Chinese tech firm Huawei.
In a clear attack on May’s decision to consider the 5G network provider for UK projects, Pompeo said: “Ask yourself: would the Iron Lady be silent when China violates the sovereignty of nations through corruption and coercion?”
The slur was straight out of Trump’s playbook.
The last time Donny was on the UK shores he too unloaded on the PM, suggesting she had snubbed his advice on Brexit and that her former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson would do a better job.
Of course, Pompeo’s slight was anything but an accident.
America’s schoolyard bully had sent his chief henchman to London to do his bidding.
And whereas before Trump wanted to split the EU while present himself, this time he sent an envoy to get his way in China, with whom he is today locked in a bitter trade war.
The contrast between Trump and most modern-era US presidents couldn’t be greater.
Friends and foes are both expected to stomach his complete lack of diplomacy, live with his lies, accept it and move on.
Despite boasting about being the world’s greatest dealmaker, he has created nothing but drama.
Negotiations over North Korea’s nukes are going backwards, the Middle East is on the brink of war and Russia is becoming increasingly emboldened. And, like the reality TV show that helped drive Trump to the White House, we cannot turn our eyes away from it.
He is single-handedly upending decades of stability and growth leaving the world facing an uncertain future, whichever camp countries are in.
Those who fight back or those which sit idly by suffer the same result – unpredictable outcomes amid escalating tensions.
The last two years have shown Trump has taken out his aggressive impulses arbitrarily, but none of us appreciated just how quick and deep he would divide his allies.
Like any bully he doesn’t pick on people he fears.
He cosies up to enemies like Kim Jong-un while toadying to Russia’s Vladimir Putin, whom he meets alone and is kind to in public.
He chooses to save his global tirades for those world leaders – May, Merkel, Macron and Trudeau – whose countries have stood by America most.
Trump has pressed hardest when his opponent shows weakness.
He sent Pompeo to the UK knowing May is reeling on the political ropes.
The President is waiting for the final Brexit blow to knock the Prime Minister out of Number 10 paving the way for a ‘Special Relationship’ on his terms.
Bullying is not a reflection of Trump’s character. It is a sign of his lack of character.
Friends and foes are both expected to stomach his complete lack of diplomacy, live with his lies, accept it and move on...