Leaders of the G7 countries, including Germany’s Angela Merkel, face Donald Trump at their summit, Charlevoix, Canada, June 9, 2018
How do other Governments prepare for the “global catastrophe” — in the words of former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen — of a second Donald Trump Presidency?
Given that Trump can continue his campaign, even if he is convicted on any of the 78 felony counts in three indictments — and the imminent prospect of a fourth set — I discuss the preparations and the issues with Philip Boucher-Hayes on Ireland’s RTE Radio 1.
Listen to Discussion
We begin with the likelihood that Trump — who blackmailed Ukraine in 2019 with a cutoff of military aid “because it would not dish dirt on Joe Biden” — will withdraw support against the Russian invasion.
We consider a possible Trump departure from NATO and disruption of the European Union, his unpredictable approach to China, and undiluted support for the Netanyahu Government in Israel.
Here’s the general rule for any ally of the US. To be an ally of Donald Trump is not a question of being a partner. You have to bend the knee before him and treat him as your master.
I conclude with a look at how Ireland, Europe, and other areas can maintain a semblance of order even as Trump threatens to break it apart.
See also EA on International TV and Radio: Trump Indicted Over His Coup Attempt
It we be like last time. Countries will adopt a harder “sovereign” model to “disconnect from the U.S. unfortunately the first Trump episode left grave trust issues for the US as a whole. It’s internal political feuding is still causing it to be less viewed globally as a beacon of democracy. More a circus. The EU and others will be fine.
Tony,
Thank you for this.
S.
[Editor’s Note: Commenter is relying on a June 12 opinion piece — already out of date — by John Yoo, the lawyer who provided the rationale for the George W. Bush Administration’s torture of detainees at Guantanamo Bay and other locations.
I don’t think that is a place commenter wants to be with this invective deflecting from the facts.]
The trials of Donald Trump represent undemocratic selective prosecution that cannot be justified as being in the public interest. Their intent is solely to harm his electoral campaign and ensure Biden is re-elected. The DoJ will not investigate or charge Hunter Biden for corruption or Robert Malley for mishandling classified documents. Trump was himself cleared of any wrongdoing by the US Senate over the false claim he tried to illegally overthrow the government and no damage to national security was done with the classified documents taken to his home at Mar-a-Lago: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/biden-doj-crossed-political-rubicon-with-trump-indictment
“Biden administration officials must explain why prosecuting Trump for misuse of classified documents justifies disregarding two centuries of constitutional practice. Presidents remain subject to the law just as anyone else. But our system has long understood that the Justice Department—which assists the president in his duty to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed”—can’t prosecute every person for every violation of every federal law. Prosecutors must exercise discretion to choose the most important cases to bring; the critical factor is whether a prosecution serves the public interest.”