To the Editor:
Some noteworthy presidential events of the last 10 days:
Trump again refused to acknowledge the increasing financial crisis in our country, dismissing it as influencing his Iran War policy decisions. “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody. I think about one thing: we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all.” It was so stunning that VP Vance denied Trump had said it. The next day, in an interview with Fox, Trump doubled down. “It was a perfect statement. I’d make it again.” Trump knows his base won’t hold him accountable.
Trump has said of Xi, “He’s a brilliant guy. He controls 1.4 billion people with an iron fist.” Highest praise from Trump. He gushed again on the Communist dictator’s strong will and leadership and complimented him for his “central casting” good looks, noting that Xi, “is very tall, and, especially for this country because they tend to be a little bit shorter.” Xi did not find it advantageous to reciprocally comment on Trump’s physical or mental qualities.
In a later interview with Hannity, Trump lauded his great success in securing an unwritten commitment from China to buy beef, soybeans, and 200 Boeing aircraft, then equivocated, “I sort of, I think it was a commitment. I mean, you know, it was sort of like a statement, but I think it was a commitment,” Trump added. “It’s a great thing. It’s a lot of jobs.” No competent negotiator would consider that “closing a deal.” China has not confirmed these purchases.
The US transcript does not mention Taiwan. However, Xi publicly reiterated the red line of the representative democratic republic, warning that if the Taiwan question is “mishandled by America” it could put the stability of China-U.S. relations “in great jeopardy.” Trump heard him, because on Board AF One he counseled Taiwan to “cool it,” and expressed reluctance to appropriate the billions of dollars in military assistance Congress has already authorized for Taiwan because, “we don’t need another war.”
Trump’s off-handed policy would represent a drastic change to the 50-year US bipartisan commitment to Taiwan, without Congressional consultation, further cementing the idea that America cannot be counted on to keep its commitments. And reinforces that Trump goes all mushy when he encounters Communist dictators. Secretary-of-State Rubio later insisted that China would make a “terrible mistake” to take Taiwan by force.” So, what’s the policy? This is a major issue of honor, economics, democracy, and the administration’s competence.
Trump recently removed thousands of troops from Germany, in a fit of pique at Chancellor Merz for observing that the US apparently did not anticipate the disaster of the Hormuz blockade, or have a Plan B, or allied support, or an exit strategy. This was not a military exigency; this was another self-soothing tantrum. Trump also floated recalling troops from Italy and Spain. Is it coincidence that these moves advance Putin’s dream of dividing the free world?
After Trump’s departure, Chinese platforms, usually circumspect about American presidents, were almost giddy, “America has lost its swagger,” one said, “They’re nothing but a paper tiger.”
It is horrifying and heartbreaking to watch the rapid dissolution of American status, respect and trust, and not just from China, which may never be regained. We have a Constitutional remedy, though the Republican Congress appears to be more afraid of Trump than of Russia, China, Iran and the American electorate, combined.
Kelly Scoles,
Fillmore, Ca