In a day which was turbulent even by Trumpian standards, an angry and scared Donald Trump lashes out at France, Melania Trump’s demands the firing of the Deputy National Security Advisor, and more stories emerge about the President’s erratic behavior antagonizing US allies.
Trump spent much of Monday berated French President Emmanuel Macron, a former Trump favorite, on Twitter.
Angry that his trip to France was mired in self-made controversy — including his refusal on Saturday to go to an American cemetery — and that Macron’s speech took headlines with its denunciation of “nationalism”, Trump mangled the French President’s statement about European defense and added a historical jab:
Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the U.S., China and Russia. But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two – How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in Paris before the U.S. came along. Pay for NATO or not!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018
Trump continued with the thought that American wine is just as good as French wine to threaten tariffs on Paris. He then aimed at Macron’s popularity to exalt “nationalism” — seen by critics as Trump’s exaltation of “white nationalism”:
The problem is that Emmanuel suffers from a very low Approval Rating in France, 26%, and an unemployment rate of almost 10%. He was just trying to get onto another subject. By the way, there is no country more Nationalist than France, very proud people-and rightfully so!……..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018
But Trump’s latest outburst only threatened to highlight recent days of fury and derision of allies. “US and European officials” said he began his journey to France last Friday, agitated by the Democrat success in midterm elections, by berating UK Prime Minister Theresa May.
May had tried to appease Trump with congratulations on supposed GOP victories, but he took little notice. He chided her for not being tough enough with Iran, challenged here again over her negotiating approach to Brexit departure from the European Union, and complained that European countries are ripping the US off in trade deals. The Prime Minister’s aides said she was shaken by Trump’s anger.
Trump continued to sulk over the elections, making false allegations of “voter fraud” to try and block recounts, for example in the Florida Senate race. He lashed out at staff over media coverage of his Saturday decision not to go to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial near Paris.
“Senior administration officials” even said that Trump considered the dismissal of White House Chief of Staff John Kelly.
One White House official noted, “He’s done this three or four times before. Nothing is ever real until he sends the tweet.” But during Sunday’s return to Washington from Paris, aides filed into Trump private cabin to speak against the leading contender to replace Kelly — Nick Ayers, Vice President Mike Pence’s Chief of Staff.
Trump continued to praise Ayers, who is backed by Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, according to multiple White House officials.
Officials also said Trump is likely to remove Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, believing she is too soft to implement the Administration’s anti-immigrant “zero tolerance” policy.
Earlier this year Trump berated Nielsen in a Cabinet meeting for supposedly not protecting the US border with Mexico. However, she has been protected from dismissal in part because of the support of Kelly, who was her predecessor at Homeland Security.
Melania Says Top Advisor Must Go
Melania Trump insisted on the firing of Deputy National Security Advisor Mira Ricardel on Tuesday, after a clash over airplane seats on a trip to Africa.
“It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House,” said Stephanie Grisham, Melania’s spokeswoman.
The First Lady toured Ghana, Kenya, and Egypt in early October.
Ricardel had also feuded with other advisors, reportedly berating colleagues in meetings and yelling at military aides and White House staff. She dislikes Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and was suspected of being behind stories this autumn that Mattis would soon depart the Administration.
Current and former White House officials said that Kelly has sought for months to oust Ricardel, and that Mattis has told advisers that he wants her dismissal.
