How does Trump serve the interests of other right-wing, authoritarian leaders around the world?
‘For Leaders Abroad, the Prospect of a Trump Revival Is Ever-Present’ (excerpts from Mark Landler’s, London bureau chief of The New York Times, Opinion in today’s paper).
‘Trump is a phenomenon, but no longer unique,” said Kim Darroch, a former …
How does Trump serve the interests of other right-wing, authoritarian leaders around the world?
‘For Leaders Abroad, the Prospect of a Trump Revival Is Ever-Present’ (excerpts from Mark Landler’s, London bureau chief of The New York Times, Opinion in today’s paper).
‘Trump is a phenomenon, but no longer unique,” said Kim Darroch, a former British ambassador to the United States. “He has spawned a whole generation of mini-Trumps and Trump-lites.”
“So if you believe that isolationism is growing in America, or it suits you politically to assert this, you don’t have to hang it all on Trump,” said Mr. Darroch, who was forced to leave his post in Washington after critical cables he wrote about the Trump administration were leaked in 2019. “There are plenty of alternatives.”
‘None of this is to say that Mr. Trump does not remain a singular figure, or that his legal woes are not drawing attention abroad. The case against the former president, with its lurid accusations of “hush money” paid to a pornographic film actress, is the kind of only-in-America spectacle that lends itself to tabloid headlines.’
“The Bigly Usual Suspect,” said London’s Daily Star tabloid, with a collage of unflattering photographs of Mr. Trump against a backdrop used for mug shots.
‘But The Daily Telegraph, which leans to the right, focused on the potential upside for Mr. Trump with his hard-right political base, declaring, “Indictment is a golden opportunity for Trump.” The sense that Mr. Trump’s legal troubles could play out unpredictably extended to Parliaments and government offices.’
‘For one thing, Mr. Darroch said, only those who follow the Trump saga closely will recognize that this is the first of potentially several indictments, in cases involving election interference and mishandling of classified documents. More casual observers will shrug it off, focusing instead on his lead in the polls over Republican rivals.’
‘In Britain, some on the right openly pine for the return of Mr. Trump, who championed Brexit and dangled the prospect of a trans-Atlantic trade agreement. President Biden shelved that, and while his relationship with Britain is cordial, he is less gushing than Mr. Trump was. Mr. Biden is skipping the coronation of King Charles III, the kind of showy, attention-saturated ceremony his predecessor would have savored.’
‘In France, President Emmanuel Macron has advanced European “strategic autonomy,” the theory that Europe needs to defend itself more independently of the United States. Mr. Trump’s derision of NATO was a key motivating factor, and a second Trump term, in which he might actually pull out of the alliance, would make it all but imperative.’
‘In the Middle East, too, countries are hedging their bets about Mr. Trump’s return to power. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have invested in a private-equity fund started by Mr. Trump’s son-in-law and former adviser Jared Kushner. The investments, experts say, reflect their desire to stay on good terms with Mr. Kushner, who is married to Mr. Trump’s elder daughter, Ivanka Trump.’
“The Saudis, in particular, are betting on a return of Trump, or at least a Republican president,” said Martin S. Indyk, a former American ambassador to Israel. “The relationship between Biden and M.B.S. is so fraught that A.B.B. — anybody but Biden — is his approach,” Mr. Indyk said, referring to the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.’
‘In Israel, analysts said, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would also likely welcome the return of Mr. Trump, not least because they share the same problems. Both face legal charges: in Mr. Netanyahu’s case, allegations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, which he has fought with a highly unpopular — and now temporarily halted — attempt to exert more control over the judiciary. Like Mr. Trump, Mr. Netanyahu has accused prosecutors of waging a politically motivated attack on him.’
‘Yet for adversaries like Russia and China, the prospect of Mr. Trump mounting another campaign for the presidency, while at the same time defending himself from criminal charges, plays into their narrative of American chaos and decline.’
‘Evan S. Medeiros, a former China adviser to President Barack Obama, said, “The Chinese will use this to reinforce the argument they’ve long made: that America is consumed by its democratic dysfunction, and that China is a better bet.”
‘To American allies, Mr. Trump’s unrelenting assault on the U.S. legal system, and the fact that he has been backed up by so many other Republicans, is perhaps the most alarming short-term fallout from his indictment.’ (NYTimes) Sorry, gifted link is not available.
Good Sunday, to you, dear Lynell. I am very happy to see you. I took note earlier with how politely you corrected a commenter with a smile of encouragement. Great Sunday lesson in good citizenship and communication. Thank you, Lynell!
How does Trump serve the interests of other right-wing, authoritarian leaders around the world?
‘For Leaders Abroad, the Prospect of a Trump Revival Is Ever-Present’ (excerpts from Mark Landler’s, London bureau chief of The New York Times, Opinion in today’s paper).
‘Trump is a phenomenon, but no longer unique,” said Kim Darroch, a former British ambassador to the United States. “He has spawned a whole generation of mini-Trumps and Trump-lites.”
“So if you believe that isolationism is growing in America, or it suits you politically to assert this, you don’t have to hang it all on Trump,” said Mr. Darroch, who was forced to leave his post in Washington after critical cables he wrote about the Trump administration were leaked in 2019. “There are plenty of alternatives.”
‘None of this is to say that Mr. Trump does not remain a singular figure, or that his legal woes are not drawing attention abroad. The case against the former president, with its lurid accusations of “hush money” paid to a pornographic film actress, is the kind of only-in-America spectacle that lends itself to tabloid headlines.’
“The Bigly Usual Suspect,” said London’s Daily Star tabloid, with a collage of unflattering photographs of Mr. Trump against a backdrop used for mug shots.
‘But The Daily Telegraph, which leans to the right, focused on the potential upside for Mr. Trump with his hard-right political base, declaring, “Indictment is a golden opportunity for Trump.” The sense that Mr. Trump’s legal troubles could play out unpredictably extended to Parliaments and government offices.’
‘For one thing, Mr. Darroch said, only those who follow the Trump saga closely will recognize that this is the first of potentially several indictments, in cases involving election interference and mishandling of classified documents. More casual observers will shrug it off, focusing instead on his lead in the polls over Republican rivals.’
‘In Britain, some on the right openly pine for the return of Mr. Trump, who championed Brexit and dangled the prospect of a trans-Atlantic trade agreement. President Biden shelved that, and while his relationship with Britain is cordial, he is less gushing than Mr. Trump was. Mr. Biden is skipping the coronation of King Charles III, the kind of showy, attention-saturated ceremony his predecessor would have savored.’
‘In France, President Emmanuel Macron has advanced European “strategic autonomy,” the theory that Europe needs to defend itself more independently of the United States. Mr. Trump’s derision of NATO was a key motivating factor, and a second Trump term, in which he might actually pull out of the alliance, would make it all but imperative.’
‘In the Middle East, too, countries are hedging their bets about Mr. Trump’s return to power. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have invested in a private-equity fund started by Mr. Trump’s son-in-law and former adviser Jared Kushner. The investments, experts say, reflect their desire to stay on good terms with Mr. Kushner, who is married to Mr. Trump’s elder daughter, Ivanka Trump.’
“The Saudis, in particular, are betting on a return of Trump, or at least a Republican president,” said Martin S. Indyk, a former American ambassador to Israel. “The relationship between Biden and M.B.S. is so fraught that A.B.B. — anybody but Biden — is his approach,” Mr. Indyk said, referring to the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.’
‘In Israel, analysts said, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would also likely welcome the return of Mr. Trump, not least because they share the same problems. Both face legal charges: in Mr. Netanyahu’s case, allegations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, which he has fought with a highly unpopular — and now temporarily halted — attempt to exert more control over the judiciary. Like Mr. Trump, Mr. Netanyahu has accused prosecutors of waging a politically motivated attack on him.’
‘Yet for adversaries like Russia and China, the prospect of Mr. Trump mounting another campaign for the presidency, while at the same time defending himself from criminal charges, plays into their narrative of American chaos and decline.’
‘Evan S. Medeiros, a former China adviser to President Barack Obama, said, “The Chinese will use this to reinforce the argument they’ve long made: that America is consumed by its democratic dysfunction, and that China is a better bet.”
‘To American allies, Mr. Trump’s unrelenting assault on the U.S. legal system, and the fact that he has been backed up by so many other Republicans, is perhaps the most alarming short-term fallout from his indictment.’ (NYTimes) Sorry, gifted link is not available.
FERN MCBRIDE (NYC) "NYTimes) Sorry, gifted link is not available."
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/02/world/europe/trump-indictment-world-leaders.html?unlocked_article_code=TsvcBdinrEA_rh92h2qq9glg651jHKk_acXrth6bl1xTL3HxyHvjt_VwIWf9NNkfyuSnWVxRaiQxABHpv5W2Enth_EQ3LYACmimdDMptW04OYs7zGvUz5BFesiR2vgYNkALXLKJd7veQ7FCg9vtrYfs73S4LdR7oaZPsA9g2nlBrEmrevYFY25yyGdYRPsMBKCtHt2khh8ISoc4MoHLaYYeSQvZBMECeNCaSrRXgJEHca0LayTJEzpHXVfOAC6YMqm8GyrOBMUCpU5gG0Y1Tyvh6vZHM6-afIU7QHf98WRSSMqJKVXm8b_GMmSctBa3-URQn-q6XqyreL15EY-j3XE-ZXWRyzZGzntX3yGo&smid=url-share
Subscribers, please note that Ron Boyd has provided a link to the Opinion,
‘For Leaders Abroad, the Prospect of a Trump Revival Is Ever-Present’, which appeared in The New York Times today, 4/2/23. Thank you, Ron.
Good Sunday, Fern. Well-put-together world view. Thank you!
Good Sunday, to you, dear Lynell. I am very happy to see you. I took note earlier with how politely you corrected a commenter with a smile of encouragement. Great Sunday lesson in good citizenship and communication. Thank you, Lynell!
Awesome. Thanks for posting this here.