New York Times readers have always been great at debates in the traditional sense of picking a side and arguing for it. But as for ability to see all sides they are woefully incapable.
Pretty clear to me that Trump is more credible to the rest of the world than Obama ever was. Obama is a paper tiger, turning red lines in the sand into translucent pink. Trump is more like the Godfather. He doesn’t tell you what not to do, he expects you to know what not to do. Does anyone really think that a foreign leader was more afraid of Obama than they are Trump? It would be nice to be liked but between being liked and being respected (even if it is fear-based) respect is more important.
Interesting. I'm old enough to remember
Joe Stalin saying something just like that.
1
We're all discussing this rationally.
But Trump is not acting rationally.
Humanity is from Earth, but Trump is from some incomprehensible alien other.
My high school students, who have more social media sense than their country's leader, have readily called the president, "America's first valley girl president". Who in world would ever think that any US President would call themselves "like, really smart" on a social media platform? If this is not an alternate reality, than it's a pivotal learning module for teachers, students, and our entire populace alike on how democracy/diplomacy should not be conducted.
1
I'll take Trump any day over Obama, Clinton. His actions are speaking a whole lot louder than his tweets.
Please do !
1
Its not likely that the nations and people of the world will give up on the US completely. But they are not going to wait around for us either. China may not have our economy yet, but they have plans whereas we have no plans. Our personal and corporate interests like the Koch brothers and Wall Street push and pull us all over the map as they try to exploit both Americans and everyone around the world. That approach to world and national leadership will become as fragmented and degrading, bringing violence to our nation as it been doing since WWII when we aligned ourselves with racists, dictators, plutocrats and oligarchs in the Middle East, Africa, South America and South East Asia. China gives a much better impression even if its self-interested to developing nations, as they deliver infrastructure and services in exchange for resources. The US has to date delivered money to the corrupt leaders in exchange for resources. Those days are over.
1
When you leave it up to others to decide whether or not to take your messages seriously, when it is not clear who the intended target of the messages is then you have no control over your communication strategy. In fact it is doubtful that you even have one. For someone who claims to be a genius that is a pretty pathetic position to be in and fundamentally undermines the credibility of the country you claim to be leading towards greatness. What is more it opens up the door for others to exploit your vagueness or your misdirected crassness expressed in a message intended for your base, see China and Pakistan. Trump, the GOP seem not to have realized that they are part of a reality show that is being watched by everybody regardless of whether or not they like the show and that everybody watching determines the ratings. Right now the ratings from the international audience indicate a serious loss of trust in the US and a significant reduction in its credibility. I suspect that Trump and his base really do not much care about that, that is until they need something from the foreigners such as market access, a trade deal, intelligence on the movements of terrorists the list goes on. Whilst the US is still a very significant market, it is no longer the must-have market, there are too many other significant opportunities around the world. Companies, investors have real choices so why go to a country that is making it clear that unless you genuflect before Trump you’re not wanted!
3
Trump's tweets are a bunch of irrational blather. He has made us the laughing stock of the world. The scariest part of his childish diatribes is that it displays his ignorance for all to see and could lead us in to war. His thoughtlessness in astounding.
1
Were I amongst America’s enemies I’d be sitting back congratulating myself on my great good fortune and laughing up my sleeve at the paper-tiger blow hard America has decided to put in charge. I’ve no doubt that Mr. Putin is in stitches as the White House collapses around Trump’s ears.
Buried in this article is an interesting and disturbing paragraph as follows:
"The public humiliation outraged Islamabad, giving an opening to China, which moved within 24 hours to praise Pakistan’s fight against terrorism. Pakistan then agreed to adopt the Chinese currency for transactions, to improve bilateral trade."
Currently the US dollar is the "default currency" for much of the world's transactions. One of China's long term goals may be to change that. If the renminbi (ie the yuan) were to became the de facto world currency for debt settlement it could have a profound negative effect on our economy.
Recent complaints have revolved around the Chinese currency held at an artificially low rate. Putting aside the fact that this assertion is probably not true in recent years, a rising yuan in a yuan denominated world definitely backfires on us. Think about the consequences of having to pay yuan denominated debt for someone holding dollars when the yuan is rising in relation to those dollars.
2
There is far too much conceit in this country, concerning our "undeniable place" as the world's leader. Electing the village idiot as our president has gravely injured our international credibility. Many people, all over the world, have basically given up on us and are now turning their heads towards Germany (possibly China...) as a future leader in the diplomatic stewardship of this planet. Unless we correct this course very soon, we can look forward to an international reputation resembling that of Russia.
4
The leaders and populations of the world outside the USA have assessed Donald Trump as not competent for the position he holds. That has been factored into the diplomatic and strategic international relation equations.
It has already happened, in fact months ago.
Please bring on number 46 as soon as possible.
2
Ignore a tiger at your peril. They are known to eat their young. A tiger is a tiger whether it's a 'genius tiger' or a 'run of the mill' tiger.
1
Our allies have a difficult time understanding Donald Trump because they tend to confuse the interests of America with those of DJT. After a couple of centuries of dealing with presidents who, for the most part, put the needs and wants of this country before their own, our allies have a hard time grasping the extent to which DJT is guided and propelled by his own ego - to the detriment of America and its interests.
Once it sinks in on them that the U.S. president has a serious personality disorder, our allies will better understand how to deal with him - which is sort of like handling a troubled adolescent. In the meantime, we can all celebrate having survived one-fourth of the Trump presidency.
See:
RevolutionOfReason.com
TheRogueRevolutionist.com
2
Stable genius? Big deal. So was Mister Ed. And grammatical, too.
3
The fact that CNN is going to air a special with Condi Rice detailing her views on foreign policy shows how little the States cares about it's credibility abroad. In the eyes of the rest of the world Condoleeza Rice is a war criminal.
2
The Apprentice is not credible. This capability is not in his nature. His unpredictability is not a game plan but his personality in full flower. He is irrational and undisciplined most of the time.
1
the Donald is playing with the American People and the people of the world and using Twitter to do so. Yet another reason why the parents, or anyone with the guts and the ability, should stop him from Tweeting.
I think the best was is for the company Twitter to close down his Twitter Account and leave the child in the White House to vent on paper and pencil and then throw that in the fireplace. For the sake of all involved, don't get played by the Donald.. he is a nasty little boy who should not be allowed to have this influence in this way. IF he has something to say, it should be in a Policy Paper. End of story.
After one year President Trump it´s even more frightening, to watch the american spectacle from the european perspective. First I thought, US officials surely would find a way to contain a President Trump. Now I´m shocked, that in your country there seem to be no means to keep him from setting the world on fire, even more than it was burning yet. I´m sure, I´m not the only one to follow american politics (and the work of Mr. Mueller) every day nervously, even with more attention than for our own politics.
1
I cannot believe that anyone would take the ramblings of this obviously mentally challenged man seriously. I do not understand how the Republican party people let this happen and let their party burn down around them.
The scary part is some people still take him seriously.
Once more the only way this will end is when we vote all Republicans out of office.
The most serious question is why the Republican party continues to support Trump. There are three possible answers: one, and the most likely, is that they will hang on to him until their agenda is fulfilled, second is that Pence is arguably even worse. Pence is a religious zealot and a fawning sycophant. The third is that they actually believe Trump is doing a good job.
1
On December 6, President Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Immediately, analysts from the NY Times, as well as CNN and myriad other liberal media outlets all predicted there would be outbreaks of violence with wholesale death and destruction.
Not only has there been little reaction, the Times itself reported two days ago that the Egyptian government, while publicly assailing Trump's decision, is privately acquiescing.
Perhaps Trump was right after all, and it's only the liberal who simply can't stand it.
Some of us deplorables are not tired of winning yet.
But I have to admit this *is* fun.
3
I firmly believe that Trump has been looked at as an incompetent threat to security long before he even became president and that the U.S. military has a policy in place to either ignore his impulses and/or to deliberately steer him away from any actions that may cause destruction to the country. In other words I think the U.S. has little to fear from this clearly incompetent and loathsome individual.
And everyone should be afraid. Very afraid. This unhinged man has control way over his ability and no one seems to be in charge. Who knows who or what he will dream up to "slaughter" tomorrow. Credibility? What credibility does the US have with this government and the little pretender.!
1
"“When you give away the status of Jerusalem unilaterally and get nothing from Israel and anger the Palestinians and challenge the world and then you lose, it’s a disastrous example of lack of U.S. credibility,” Mr. Burns said."
What do you mean "unilaterally"? Its trilateral, where it matters: 1) Us 2) Israel 3) Reality
Why should we "get something" from Israel? They need to give nothing.
They are victorious in multiple wars, not started by them. They have endured numberless egregiously evil terrorist attacks from the "other side".
The side we need to "get something from" is the other one.
That something is peace.
I am okay if Pakistan (and other nations) enter the warm embrace of China. Have at them.
I am also okay if European leaders are scared by Trump's craziness. They want every benefit of American muscle for free, and the inalienable right to exploit everyone they once ruled over. I hope, in protest of Trump's craziness, they curb their willingness to fight to the last American.
I am also okay if what passes for intelligent people (those who frequent Fareed Zakaria's talk show as guests), are chagrined (e.g., Haas). Not one of them has ever figured something other than blindingly obvious. And other than weeping helplessly, vigorously, I am seeing very little that democrats are doing to make sure their constituencies come out to vote in 2018 or 2020. Democratic constituencies will - without a doubt - find reasons not to come out to vote, and silently suffer republican efforts to prevent them from voting.
The clearest message democrats should take from Trump is this: find your base, rile them up, never mind the consequences. Bernie was doing that with his silly "everything will be free, you can live in your parent's basements for ever" routine.
Trump is crazy? You should change your definition of crazy. Trump is delivering brilliantly. Every white christian tribe that elected him is giddily happy. Republican leaders, who rely on these tribes to keep them in power, couldn't be happier.
Call him crazy; he is in charge for some very very good reasons.
Kalidan
1
While it has become obvious that there is no coherent strategy contained in the never-ending twitter assault on America, there is one concern that all Americans should fear. Of the many tools Donald Trump has used to distract us from his ignorance and nearly unbelievable incompetence, the most powerful would be to start a new world war. Trump would naturally assume that all Americans would rally around a leader----even one as ignorant, cynical, self-serving and stupid as Donald Trump. This is what keeps me awake at night, and this is the danger that our Congress continues to ignore at our collective peril.
1
Yeah, we know he's nuts, already.
To counteract international confusion and alarm, the Democrats and the media must start talking serious, reality oriented policy---to US voters and to the world.
What policies would serve the interests of the mass of citizens, so that dangerous Trump-types don't become president of the US?
After Trump is gone, the world will still view the US negatively as the country that elected this bizarre authoritarian egotist with a slim connection to reality, and to his duty to citizens.
The world looks at our big money financed political culture, and sees that it’s dominated by a show biz personality orientation, and corporate financing of our elections. These values dominate what was once a world role model. After Trump, how long will it take us to restore our democracy for our own citizens, and restore respect in the eyes the world?
Our media has to report his tweets (mostly), but should not spotlight or bosess over them. Instead make comparisons with better political cultures that take duty to citizens more seriously. That would be our own in past generations, and other advanced countries today.
1
Donald "the despicable" our national embarrassment, continues to reach new lows in world opinion. He may never see the inside of a jail cell, but he, his family and most importantly, to him, his brand has been corroded beyond repair.
1
What Donald Trump has made abundantly clear is that even an unfit person with questionable financial links and intentions could win the office of US president. Never has it been more clear than now that we need good leadership from town halls to Washington. Our children are watching and the choice is clear. We can raise bigots and people with little sense of responsibility for the elderly and their neighbors OR we can raise world leaders who embrace humanity and GOOD basic moral values.
If you have some gumption and real interest in making America the GREATEST for every American and are willing to make the sacrifice, it is your duty now to run for office. PLEASE!!! This democracy may depend on it.
1
Dear World,
Trump is a terrible fluke.
Please bear with us.
He will be removed by November 2020, if not sooner.
Thanks for your patience,
America (the 80 percent of us who want Trump removed from office)
5
Recall, everyone, how he avoided the draft 5 times: By showing Doctor Borenstein his heel; and claiming he was Achilles.
1
The United States was founded not on notions of grandeur and ostentatiousness, but on the qualities of humility and inclusion: civility, tolerance, compromise, to name a few. Unfortunately, in the last century when our nation enacted a self-enforced end to isolationism -- on the admirable premise of helping peaceable Europeans end the bloody chaos of World War I -- we gradually let this good Samaritan act go to our heads and became the "world's policeman."
Even so, the "face" of our nation -- our presidents -- for the most part held the line in proving the U.S. to be a beneficent ally and servant.
Enter Trump.
Single-handedly, this menace -- this Commander of Confrontation -- is Destabilizing global friendships, psyches, even markets; and hardly a day passes that he does not Destroy trust somewhere (see the Palestinians).
In just one year, Trump has dismantled our morale at home and our reputation abroad. Reprehensible is that these actions constitute not a benign illness, but a Cancer -- metastasizing.
Meanwhile, like foul waterway runoff left unchecked, Trump's Poisonous Presidency persists.
4
The more time passes, the more we become conditioned to ignore the idiocies emanating from The Stable Genuis' Twitter feed. Hopefully world leaders recognize Trump is an anomaly in American leadership, and they react (or don't react) to the tweets accordingly.
1
Why doesn't everyone understand... the key is to take the exact opposite as his intention and you will usually be spot on. "No Collusion" is "Da, conspiracy". "Best memory!" is "Steve/Flynn/Manafort/Papadapolis who?"
1
Trump should be stopped from tweeting anyone. A president simply should not use the method to give his or her opinion. The man is a danger to the world as he rambles on
It didn't take long for my family and friends in Germany to figure out this president or his tweets -- especially not after his less than hospitable encounter with Chancellor Merkel, who was one of the first European leaders to make the soujourn to the Trump White House just after the inauguration.
The way he has treated others and this office since then is just an extention of how he regards everybody who isn't willing to bow down to his will, or grant him unlimited access to spreading his family-brand.
With this president, America lost the credibility race a long time ago.
Apparently, all the people working for Trump know he is off his rocker and unqualified. His base still doesn't get this situation? They are truly deplorable.
Trump has absolutely no credibility and neither does the US as long as he remains in office.
Good advice. But, now we have to determine who is really running this country. It obviously is not him.
American credibility has already sunk below zero for most European citizens, ever since the US government came to be led by a man with a clearly unhinged mind. Most European politicians of course frame their opinion in more diplomatic terms.
Nixon: I am not a crook!
Trump: I'm a stable genius!
1
Clearly our President should have his Twitter account deleted, for bullying and encouraging violence. If you or I said those things...?
This is an informative article, but in too many ways it's an opinion piece. For example, Mr. Erlanger (the Times correspondent) uses "humiliating" to describe the UN General Assembly vote as a "rebuke" to President Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel.
I'm no admirer of Mr. Trump, and my policy views tend to be middle-left, but I wish Mr. Erlanger had seriously considered the possibility that Mr. Trump cut a Gordian Knot. In this context it's interesting that a more recent Times report said that major Arab governments are advising the Palestinians to temper their outrage, possibly even accepting Ramallah as the capital of their sought-after independent Palestinian state.
The reaction of "world opinion" was so predictable -- when has the General Assembly or other UN bodies *not* voted against Israel, even when affirming palpable untruths? -- that it almost invites parody.
R. Nicholas Burns' claim that Trump giving away the status of Jerusalem without getting something from Israel in return reflects what the classic about negotiation, "Getting to Yes", calls positional bargaining. It's a negotiating style that has bedeviled Israeli-Palestinian negotiations by encouraging posturing, rigidity, and unrealistic demands. Perhaps Mr. Burns should talk with staff at the Harvard Negotiation Project and reconsider his approach to Mideast negotiations. Is it time to supplement old "verities" with fresh modes of thinking about Israel and the Palestinians?
https://tv.nrk.no/serie/lindmo/MUHU12006217/11-11-2017#t=47s
The link above shows a Norwegian Saturday TS where the first guest is the Sec. Gen. of NATO. To a large degree, he wore the hat of Sec. Gen., behaved well, and answered diplomatically when asked about Trump and the role of his job, aware of the fact that his answers would not be broadcasted only to the Norwegian public, but to the entire world.
The biggest laugh from the audience came when the host asked:
In your communication with Trump, do you put in some adult education? Do you allow yourself to say things like "The term ´rocketman´... could we possibly tone that down? Should we perhaps tweet a little less?"
His reply:
"I am in a position where I need to think carefully before I say things out loud. At least in public. We (Trump and I) often have a more direct tone together when we are alone in a room. The only way that is possible, is to make sure that I later do not reveal in public what I or he said".
Q: Has your tone changed from the time when you operated in Norwegian politics to your job on the international stage?
A: Not much, because you always have to be careful. Even more so when you have direct relations with several countries, and you operate on the international stage, because what is considered a funny joke in Norway, might be considered a tremendous insult somewhere else.
It is a shame DT does not possess that same understanding.
Ross Williams, you are wrong. Language matters.
1
I believe the rest of the world is waiting to see if our democracy really works or are those days gone. A country that defeated fascism in WW2 should not have stooped so low as to elect a president such as Trump, but we did. It's now time for this country to use the powers that are written into our Constitution and show the world that we have the ability to right the wrong of the Trump's presidency.
Trump tower had a " small" fire, Today. Pants on Fire????
2
Other countries should consider Trump's words for what they are: the momentary explosions of a senile old Man who doesn't remember what he just said from minute to minute and then lies to cover his errors.
Of course that doesn't make a president. And that is perhaps a problem for foreign administrations. But for the American public, on the other hand, it is excruciatingly painful.
Trump is now the Poster Child for what used to be called the Ugly American.
I don't think there is anything left of "American credibility" to risk. It's pretty clear to the rest of the world that Donald Trump is not the last gasp of the old America. The last gasp was Barack Obama. He was the anomaly that stood out from the trend of growing ignorance in the populace and the resultant decline of national principles. It's Trump, Ryan, Cruz, Bannon, etc from now on.
" saying on Twitter that Pakistan had “given us nothing but lies & deceit” and accusing it of providing “safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan.”
Never understood the orthodox US policy of paying Pakistan to pay the Taliban to kill US soldiers and NGB volunteers in Afghanistan?
"Trump’s Twitter Threats Put American Credibility on the Line"?
Thanks to Trump, the USA has NO credibility, either to its own citizens of the rest of the world!
A majority of people in the USA regard him as an illegitimate, election-thieving, well-documented serial liar.
And the rest of the world is both stunned by what the USA is doing under his 'leadership' and generally disdainful of Trump as a person or "leader". They also now regard regard our nation as a faithless partner for international cooperation or treaties / agreements since the word of our "president" and his minions means absolutely nothing.
1
American credibility? Really?
Advice to world: Ignore Trump.
He changes his mind on a daily basis, has a short attention span and will likely be removed from office before his term is up.
Trump has zero credibility with 70% of the American people so his days as POTUS as numbered.
The 2018 midterm elections will usher in a Democratic takeover in Congress which will likely start impeachment proceedings if he's not indicted and removed from office prior to that.
In spite of the spineless and greedy GOP sycophants, Trump's days are numbered and his policies will be reversed by the next sane POTUS.
1
On first glance, DJT's relentless tweets have a kind of "in your face" quality that puts America center stage on the international scene.
In fact, DJT's communications establish reason for countries engaged in serious diplomacy to dismiss us.
The most important paragraph in this article is the one describing the fall out from DJT's sudden cut-off of US aid to Pakistan.
When America no longer takes seriously its place in the world, other powers step in to fill the void. At that point, we have no influence over who that is or the results of the shift in power and influence away from our control.
Gimme a break, World! We saw the truth about Donald Dumb's credibility long ago. Or, "Our credibility is bigger than yours"......so there!
Credibility? That horse has left the barn. Western leaders are bending over backwards not to antagonize the Leader of the world's largest military and economy. And that makes sense. But the citizens of these countries sit in amazement at what is happening in the USA today under the leadership of the stable genius. One thing, it certainly isn't boring.
I think this may be one of the good things to come out of this awful administration. Trump's idiocy and lack of attention span is clear enough in his tweets, to the world at large. Other nations are already disregarding his foolhardy and meaningless statements. And other nations are thus losing respect for America as a whole, turning elsewhere for trade treaties and so on.
But this could be a good thing. Something is obviously badly wrong with America right now. We've elected a racist, idiotic fascist as president. We're paying a lot of attention to meaningless drivel like reality TV, entertainment apps, and so forth. We're highly divided and our democracy's strength is in doubt.
Just as Trump is not fit to be president, I think America is not fit to lead the world anymore. We have deteriorated too much in moral standing, we have failed to educate our citizens, and at least 35% of America seems to be ignorant, racist, sexist, and without worth.
So this could all turn out well for the world, sidelining the failing America and creating a new paradigm for the future. I think more moral democracies than ours, ironically Germany and Japan, could lead the way better than we can anymore.
How should the world react to the fact that, Donald Trump claims the secruity of airspace travel as a personal victory?
In Europe we have long ties to the USA, and the water runs deep. But it is heart breaking to watch Donald Trump leave the Paris climate deal, its confusing and angering to see him pick a twitter fight whit the mayor of London after a terror attack. When Donald Trump posted videos whit the intention of showing immigrants as violent, I think something broke for many in Europe.
I honestly hope we can get back on track, but the more time Donald Trump spends in the White House, the less it seems likely.
Trump Presidency as Dumpster Fire, Chapter 392
Memo to world:
Please do not think this narcissistic, malignant sociopath represents the American people.
Most Americans DID NOT VOTE FOR HIM.
Most Americans have zero respect for him
And most Americans recognize that he is mentally unhinged.
He is a tax cheat and a scam artist, and the subject of a criminal investigation.
Be patient.
In the meantime, ignore him if you can.
Since Trump's primary form of communication is the tweet, I have to assume that all of his twit-assininity is being saved and archived. Some day we'll be able to visit the hallowed halls of the Trump Presidential Library -now, there's a concept!- to review the Very Stable Genius's statesmanship as it unfolded and Made America Great Again.
We are a nation in peril!
"For those around Mr. Trump in Washington, the daily battle is to 'try to temper his temperament.'"
There is overwhelming evidence that Trump is unhinged. This was entirely foreseeable based on his behavior before he was elected.
And yet he was elected, and he still has a chunk of the nation, and clear majority of Republicans, supporting him.
What is wrong with these people? Of course having this man-child malignant narcissist as President is costing us standing in the world. For decades the United States, post WWII, had been a respected world leader, and the Trump voters willingly squandered that for a reality TV show President.
Why can't the Republicans do the right thing and impeach him or remove him under the Twenty-Fifth Amendment? How much longer will we all suffer?
sorry World, we here have a boss that is the result of the educated graduates or administrators possibly of The Electoral College. i have not located their campus yet but all my life i was told these deserving americans had our countries best interests at heart. i feel misused.
he ran as chaos and those electoral must want it. i don't. most of my friends don't. it is safe to say the world will be better off once this rude epreuve has concluded.
1
The title of the story is an idea whose "ship sailed" some months ago. Other than demagogues like himself, Trump is regarded as being politically toxic and a significant political pariah to the leaders of even those countries that America would consider their closest allies. It has been noted that for the first time in recent history, the President had no state dinners in his first year in office, no doubt, because those leaders, clearly, would prefer NOT to be invited.
In his stupidity, by his words and actions, without the regular help of many countries around the world, Trump is actually undermining the security of the United States going forward. A country does not make itself more secure by getting rid of hundreds of thousands of immigrants.
1
Those who voted for Trump mostly don't care much about America's "credibility." They love what he stands for and knew what they let themselves in for in 2016, arguing once he surrounded himself with the right people in office, he would be alright. Many of us foresaw that he would be a disaster, turning the country into a banana republic.
Today we - sadly - are smug that we were right about our apprehension. Trump's supporters still believe he is doing a good job. It is the rest of the country and the world that have to pay for their reckless choice, including the GOP fealty to such a treacherous president.
42
He has no credibility here (neither do his minions - McConnell, Ryan, Pence, Nunes, etc.), so why would he have any in the world that he has demonstrated no interest, curiosity, nor knowledge? It's like living in permanent purgatory with an evil, sociopathic child and his enablers. Help us!
28
Congress needs to take the bull by the horns and make sure he is mentally fit to run the country, he needs to be examined! Our lives are at stake and if he is mentally unstable he needs to be impeached!
Congress has supported this madness because they have wanted him to sign off on the tax bill and satisfy the corporations and billionaires, which now he has done and to me in putting this objective above all else has made Congress complicit! They owe us and the world stability!
8
Oh please - you libs have tried that with every Republican president. Give it up already.
Well sure, Trump’s tweets are contradictory, destabilizing, undermining, demeaning, sexist, racist, and terminally undiplomatic, but his ratings, with some people, are through the roof. And that’s the scary part.
20
In other words, the world is recognizing the rantings of a lunatic for what they are.
Perhaps it's time for we the people to declare Sacramento as capital of the US.
10
Feel free to do that and watch the exodus from California.
Kind of like a reality TV show, isn't it? What outrage will "drunk uncle" say next?
Whether this is an organized plan to mesmerize us all into spectatorhood, or nothing more coherent than the racist, xenophobic ramblings of a vacuous old oligarch thumbing away to the glow of his phone screen, the effect is the same.
We waste valuable time with our watercooler conversations and angry articles focused myopically on the content of these posts. Whatever Trump does or says, we've got to get back to sanity on our side.
We've got to get this narcissist out of office before he can jail me for calling him a narcissist.
13
Sure, Trump is a genius in a stable...
6
Dear World,
We don't want Trump either. He's truly a disgrace to humanity.
30
While watching all those series like House of Cards depicting the USA presidency, my constant questioning had to do on how the government was able to perform state administration with all the intrigues and dirt surrounding its dealings and wheelings among players.
OK, of course, I realized that it was just a TV show......
Then came this disaster and I switched to the news. They are more interesting and fascinating.
3
The president, like many Americans, is sick and tired of the rest of the world taking our generous foreign aid and then thumbing their noses at the United States. Our only real ally is Israel, and that tiny nation is also scorned by the rest of the world. It's time for us to reward our friends, and to punish our enemies. Case closed.
I think "bada bing" is better emphasis than "case closed" when implying that an entirely refutable argument is irrefutable.
1
Put down the comic book. What needs "punishing" is ignorance.
America has many allies that we are alienating as we speak.
1
How intelligent can you be to suggest that Israel is our only ally in the world?
Here is another VERY important question, do you get rid of your friends every time you disagree on something or did you get a divorce? If you do, it would suggest that you are immature.
Just sayin, we did that sort of thing in elementary school...
1
The US credibility on the line because of Donald Trump. Who would have guessed?
And the Republicans stand by idle. They have their agenda puppet.
13
There is no plan. Anyone who has read extensively on the man knows there is no pattern to his behavior. He's not "setting the day", much less calculating.
He's just spewing nonsense because he can.
20
The U.S. is now fallen to #3 in world power status, behind #1 China and #2 Russia.
In just one year.
Make China and Russia great again!
28
Actually Trump is doing quite a good job there - making China and Russia great again. As for the U.S., not so much!
His tweets alone prove his lack of any real capacity to understand. I cannot imagine the pressure of the level of intricacy involved in dealing with multi layered problems on a global scale. His lack of any willingness to even consider this at the most sensitive times etc, is where he is most dangerous. His use of off the cuff and insulting comments may not be consequential or may even be the standard (in his mind) in his business dealings, but they can be used to justify severe actions by bad actors in the world. This level of crude linguistics and messaging without and real consideration for the potential consequences is where this man is most dangerous. It may feed his base and their need for macho and fragile male ego stroking, but it may get the rest of us or other inoccents across the planet killed. VOTE.
8
When THE chief spokesperson for the US government is a petty, vindictive, impulsive, and compulsive liar, how can the nation’s credibility and reputation not suffer?
10
You know it's bad when you see a Trump press release on a serious subject written in complete sentences, in actual paragraphs that makes sense and you know automatically someone else wrote it for him. His real voice and attitude are in his mindless "tweets" and he comes across as about 8 years old.
You can't get blood from a turnip.
So we have to ask the GOP: Have you no decency??
12
So true, because when he reads what others have written (the stuff that makes sense), he stumbles over the text as though he hasn't a clue what it says...but then.....
2
Deflect attention. Sow confusion. Unending daring and bravado. That is the T rump way. There is no coherency or purpose, just keep the pot at a boil.
5
REALLY! WHY would any sane leader of a foreign country desire to give LOYALTY to the adolescent, dishonest, corrupt and greedy President of the United States.
EVERY TIME D. Trump fires off another rambling, volatile tweet, our allies shudder and back away. WE THE PEOPLE will pay the price for all of Trump's irrational and adolescent behavior. D. Trump won't give a hoot. In his mind, he is NOT SERVING the PEOPLE... he is feeding his insatiable ego and his bank accounts.
9
On the behalf of the three orphaned raccoons I have raised over the years I strenuously object to your linkage of those intelligent creatures with our irrational and infantile president who would not win an IQ test with any raccoon I have ever known.
19
IF we IGNORE him, he will continue with his idiotic 'rule' of our Democracy! We must get him FIRED from his job as President. Each passing day brings us closer to his doing more to HARM our Democracy.
8
Eighty-two years ago, the British had a king infatuated with Hitler and the Reich. The government of the time kept the people in the dark and through their forced ignorance, and even though the world was being torn apart, the people still fawned over this man like driveling serfs. Many lesser men had their necks stretched for smaller crimes.
Trump has made clear his infatuations. There is no ambiguity to him any longer, no mystery to decipher. Only a vastly ignorant swath of public opinion keeps him in place, proving that history can easily be repeated when public ignorance is abused by the powerful and upheld by the cowardly.
2
Fortunately, the British managed to rid themselves of Edward VIII I'm time to confront Hitler and survive.
Will America be able to survive?
Exactly right, James. Just a small concept to complement your words. No question that this derelict, accident of nature has his days numbered. He's too old, heavy and showing a complex set of disturbing mental short circuits that are the best guarantee of his hopefully precipitous demise.
My question is: then what?
If he would've grab the power thru a coup, then hope for a substantial change would be in order. But he was ..... democratically elected!
Sure, electoral college cancer made it possible but this "democracy malfunction" coupled by an ignoramus, resentful, vindictive and frustrated population of millions are behind this epic tragedy.
And THEY will still be there after nature goes on. Then what?
It is becoming increasingly difficult if not impossible for me to envision who will then grab the driving wheel and how, and worse of all: how all those blind and hateful will be controlled and nicely educated about the why and how this incredible tragedy took place.
Donnie is there not by accident. It's time to start talking about what made him grab the power, keep it and if possible stop him and his gang to destroy everything we hold dear.
But you fail to note the essential difference between the honourable and educated British and the sycophant ignorance of the dishonourable American GOP government. Parliament forced Edward to resign and exiled him in perpetuity. Not just because he wanted to marry an American divorcee but because of his obvious ties and infatuation with Hitler which Churchill recognized as extremely dangerous. The GOP will fawn and genuflect to the ignorant and dangerous oaf King. It’s not “ public opinion” that’s keeping him in office but a bunch of greedy self serving American politicians. The country has much to learn from the British way of dealing with dangerous leaders who should be removed.
Look, this incredibly needy individual is single-handedly destroying America's credibility and influence in the world. Through sheer stupidity, recklessness and self-loathing.
All this careful analysis simply dances around the hard, cold fact that this individual is immature, unbalanced, stupid, selfish and unfit for public service.
The responsibility lies with the so-called Republicans in Congress. They have failed to act to defend our country.
9
And I hope they will be brought to task at the 2018 elections. I wouldn't vote for one of them! It's clear Trump is nuts and yet they sit back and do nothing. We are already behind China and Russia and falling fast. The U.S. loses credibility by the day with this lunatic in office. Congress has betrayed us all!
A local man has insisted he is a ‘stable genius’ after dressing up as Napoleon to chase away the ‘invading’ pigeons from the nearby park.
Donald O'Tard, 34, insisted his behaviour is precisely what you’d expect from someone of his intellect and mental stability.
He explained, “I am a genius, you simply can’t deny it. Look at my clothes, look at my military record – look at the hordes of invading pigeons that I successfully defeat day after day – in what other terms could you possibly describe me? I am a magnificent winner.
Despite visiting parents telling their children to stay well away from the strange man, O'Tard himself is supremely confident that everyone thinks he is a genius.
He went on, “True genius is hardly ever recognised. The simple minds of mere mortals cannot comprehend my intellect, which is why they create terms such as ‘mental illness’ and ‘dissociative disorder’ to try and classify my brilliance in terms they feel comfortable with.
“They don’t seem to realise that I am the only one who can save everyone from the pigeons and make this park great again.
3
as foolish as trump is he is spot on when it comes to Israel and the palestineans.he said they can have 2 states or 1 state.it looks like Israel is slowly moving to one state to the Jordan river.
Could 45 be considered an idiot-savant?
Oxford Dictionary definition,”Definition of idiot savant - a person who has a mental disability or learning difficulties but is extremely gifted in a particular way, such as the performing...”. He certainly performs on Twitter.
4
"If Mr. Trump’s threats are seen as hollow, what does that do to American credibility?"
Nothing. America's credibility has always been based on what it does, not what it says. You want to see the hit to American credibility, look at Libya or Iraq. In both cases, their leaders complied with American wishes with the implicit promise that they would not be attacked. The result of our failing to fulfill that promise is that there was never any real basis for negotiations with North Korea. The Iran deal worked only because it was multilateral. We are already making noises about backing out of that deal as well but all the storm and fury won't matter unless we actually impose sanctions in violation of the agreement. The rest is just noise.
Of course to talking heads, talk is ALL that matters. So carry on.
3
How about (for a change) an article is published that describes strong support in some of the states that he carried in 2016? Lets get away from the coastal Democratic states and go to Republican states like Ohio, Indiana, Michigan or Texas and examine why President Trump is so popular there, especially amongst white blue collar voters. I used to live in the Midwest and two friends from there, who recently visited me here in Manhattan say that he's extremely popular there. Guess the first place that this couple wanted to see? Yup, Trump Tower!
Ohio here, John.
He's not all that popular here except in pockets of peudo-Apalachia and various areas where lots of white people lost their once well-paying manufacturing jobs (long ago) to the corruption and sloth of corporate masters who either failed to compete (steel) or sent the work offshore.
That is, to Trump's best friends.
These people have been convinced Democrats, who fought for unions, who introduced legislation to preserve American jobs, who backed wage supports and tax equity are their enemies.
Granted, it took forty years of devilish anti-Clinton propaganda and legislators like our lovely Mr. Portman who have been willing to lie, then lie about lying, then attack the people who call them liars. The very road-map Trump slavishly follows today.
These are also people who refused to get involved in their own political destinies and have spent decades sitting around waiting for someone to come save them.
People who crucified Hillary for offering them time, with financial support, to find better, safer jobs. People like the coal miner quoted here this weekend who, now that mining has been saved, decided maybe they'd like to look for different work, if only they could afford the training.
You live near New York, how likely is it that what you long to see on arrival is some two-bit apartment building covered in gold paint? Tells you a lot.
And this: you have no idea how popular Trump is, relative to Hillary, as Ohio is a leader in vote suppression.
1
I live in Ohio. How about you provide something other than your 'two friends' evidence that he's 'so popular' here? We're not all conservative rubes who are astonished by tall buildings.
1
In reply to Oogada in Boogada
First, I didn’t know there are coal mines in Ohio. Where exactly are they?
Second I’ve never heard of a place called Boogada in Ohio! Does it exist?
From the very first day of the Trump presidency, we all knew the president is not a reliable source of information or policy. First the intel community, then the military (remember the armada?), then foreign leaders, the State Department, Congress, the public and the media have all learned to ignore the president.
It isn't really necessary to look overseas to discover that Donald kicks his shoes into the gears of domestic and global politics. The definition of sabotage.
2
If Donald Trump was just a businessman, a New York City Society wannabe, everyone would write him off as "eccentric" if they were being kind, as a "wacko" if not. The problem is, Donald Trump is President of the United States of America. His words matter, his words inflame or calm situations around the world, his words can get people killed (Palestine), his words are something that other leaders, not all of them sane (Kim), base their decisions upon. Some of those decisions can have world wide impact.
The issue is of course, that Trump acts as if he is still a spoiled child with no responsibilities and little understanding of consequences. Looking from the outside, his actions indicate a personality that is so self centered that all others are not quite real to him. That all his relationships are transactional, and one way "How can this person, situation, benefit me now?" The past does not exist and there is no comprehension that his past words and actions may influence how people and nations may perceive him now. What is even worse is that this person has control of a vast military, which includes nuclear weapons. He literally has world ending power.
I am not going to address Trump's politics. What I am going to say is that based on HIS OWN WORDS AND ACTIONS, Trump is too unstable to be entrusted with such power and should be removed. It is not a matter of if he will lead us into serious trouble, it is only a matter of when.
6
President Stable-genius's tower caught fire. Took Stable-genius Junior a micro-second to report it on Twitter. Took the rest of us even less time to wonder what went up in smoke.
2
I imagine the world beyond US borders -the electron does not recognize borders, does it ? - will get or has already become accustomed to Trump's bluster, some quarters no doubt expect it, as of a mad dog waking up from its slumber it makes a threatening noise but then doesn't bite anyone, or - if we are to believe Michael Wolf's FIRE AND FURY takes out its bad dreams on the White house staff. Medieval tales have accounts of Kings of that kind who had the oddest of habits. At least Trump does not consume a new born babe each morn or demand a virgin tribute from every village he passes through - let's give thanks, matters could be worse!
2
A point well made in the article is that Trump's tweets are often written in the early morning. This is done to control the day's news cycle. Sometimes it is to distract. Sometimes to push a line of argument. Often to rile up his base. None are to establish a coherent long term policy position. People need to stop falling into Trump's trap of seriously considering and reacting to these tweets.
2
There is no trap here. Trump's tweets are Trump working as hard as he can to promote policy. They are the highest expression of his ability. This is Trump running as fast as he can. There is no REAL substantive policy to be articulated and advanced later. This is it. This all he's got.
There isn't going to be a main event. It's all barker and no carnival.
When my siblings and I were fighting as children, my mother would say she must be doing something right because our squabbles with each other meant we were not ganging together against a common enemy - her. Trump is changing the game from one where countries squabble with each other to one where they will gang against a common enemy. The world won't stop turning or bow down to the US because some bloviator in the White House talks tough. They will just find somewhere else to go.
3
Anyone looking for policy statements from Trump will look in vain - this administration simply does not have a coherent foreign policy. It is particularly disconcerting that Sec. Tillerson is even attempting to build a strategy out of Trump's twits. One might as well try reading tea leaves.
4
In reply to Bill White Ithaca
You write "this administration does not have a coherent foreign policy".
But it does, "Make America Great Again"! That's why the rest of the world is so upset.
American credibility is not on the line, America has no credibility America has only the power to destroy and has lost any power to build.
The USA lead the world from 1940 until 2000 and it was a very good run and much like the USA itself we in your satellite countries have been in denial that the USA has not been in a leadership position for two decades. Here in Canada 75% of our economy is in America's hands and we know we must escape your orbit but but we are wealthy, healthy and educated and life keeps getting better and we are a democracy.
The ribald farce that is Trump's America is riveting entertainment but we are holding our breathe hoping that when Macron returns from China we can stand up and make clear that the USA is not the leader of the free world and even the American economic system provides no way into the future.
The thirty percent who support Trump are enough to keep Trump and his minions in power for another generation because so few Americans vote and you have a ruling party which has 54 years of practice suppressing and distorting the vote. Most Americans know neither their history nor their literature and what was said yesterday is already ancient history. Trump's twitting is 2018 America is. America today does what America is very good at passing gas, but up here in the frozen north it is getting very difficult to breathe.
6
As a teacher and child care worker, I am required to report troublesome observations, regarding abuse, self-harm, danger to others. But most students, while many have access to weapons, do not have the "nuclear button" on their desks. In this nuclear age it is both astonishing and dangerous to NOT have some measures to assess and control a person who controls the nuclear option. This seems like modern governance 101, to be as careful and thorough as we can.
3
Trump's tweets only confirm the premise of the book, "Fire & Fury," that he has little control over himself and behaves quite immaturely, not just for a President, but for any adult. The tweets are emotional, inconsistent and hyperbolic. Very little thought is given to each tweet before it is sent out into the world, not as a statement from Donald J. Trump, but as a pronouncement from the President of the United States.
Until now, a president did not normally make remarks "off the cuff" without a thorough vetting of the statements as to whether it conformed with or changed the policies of the United States. A president should not have the freedom to say anything he wants at any given time, even when the remarks are carefully considered, without a formal review by the appropriate agencies of the government. It can, and now does, lead to confusion about American policy, and a search for the proper meaning of these statements coming from America's highest government official.
Trump's comments are the extreme example of the baby boomer mentality of "it's all about me." Sooner or later these uninformed. unreviewed & unfocused remarks will cause significant damage to our country's foreign policy.
4
As long as we have a president who refuses to do the hard work of the presidency, but has in fact shortened both his work day and his work week, we will be led by a man who goes with his gut.
So we should think of the President in terms of that gut; it is ill-nourished with fatty foods and overcooked meats. His gut instincts are similarly fueled by ill-informed rumors and half-baked theories that air themselves as a cloud of foul smelling gaseous thoughts that those who follow him around DC seem immune to, even thrive upon. But the majority of American citizens are in a perpetual state of holding our noses, gasping for air, fresh air, the truth for a change.
The rest of the planet moves on, and will learn to go on, without a real American President to lead the free world. Those other democracies will become facile in dodging poisonous and confusing tweets and ignore America, replace us. Divorce us. They will find it easier to do than they thought just a year ago. It is already happening. We are a soap opera, an accident to be slowed down for on the side of the road, and then sped clear of at the first opportunity with a shake of the head... Travel outside of our country and you will see what I mean... Some laugh gleefully, others sadly but the effect is the same...
3
The professional politicians and intelligence officers from around the globe learned very quickly that Trump's words have no meaning. They knew it on the day he took office, because they followed our election closely to learn who would replace the 'known' Obama. Has our credibility been hurt? Undoubted, it has damage our reputation the citizens of the world. It has also hurt our intelligence agencies as they can no longer rely on their counterparts to provide the intelligence we need, as they cannot trust that Trump, or one of his truly incompetent staff members won't run off to Putin to fill him in on it. But the professional politicians know, Trump is a an exception that must be tolerated and worked around until either our Congress or our citizens remove Trump from the presidency.
1
President Trump came across as ignorant on foreign
policy issues in the presidential debates. He has refused
to learn. Foreign policy problems have been further
complicated by an ineffectual secretary of state and
an undiplomatic UN ambassador. Nikki Haley thrives
in parroting the tough language of the president
which irritates the allies and delight the foes. with
Trump unable to learn and Haley mistakenly viewing
herself as tough, ready to delight the potential
donors, friends of Israel, for her run for the office
in future. Is she serving US or herself?
2
It is horrifying that Countries get the leaders they deserve.
1
Given where we are with trump, it is for the best that no other country trust us. Our allies must rise to the occasion and proceed without us. We have stepped out of the equation and anything this man does is harmful. We need our allies and wiser minds to move forward in the battle to save us from environmental destruction and climate change. We need them to do what it can to put out fires that could lead to war. Our leaders in this country are leaderless. All of them have lined their pockets and listen to their paymasters. No one should expect anything from them. Americans who are angry and worried need to mobilize and figure out how to take charge and get us back on a moral course. We must get people to vote. Big lift--and November is so far off. We must do more imaginative things now: start boycotts, speak in ways that can be heard. No matter our age or sense of powerlessness. It is time to act. NOW.
3
Trump announced his decision to comply with the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 by delivering a formal 1,200-word a speech in which he fully explained his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv. He also said: “This decision is not intended, in any way, to reflect a departure from our strong commitment to facilitate a lasting peace agreement. We want an agreement that is a great deal for the Israelis and a great deal for the Palestinians. We are not taking a position of any final status issues, including the specific boundaries of the Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem, or the resolution of contested borders. Those questions are up to the parties involved.” It hard to see how this created confusion about American policy regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict.
There's seldom any rhyme or reason to the tweets or the "policies" or "philosophies" expressed in them. Just because a President of the United States is blasting out 6 a.m. thoughts does not confer inherent wisdom from the mountaintop. The more he criticizes, impugns, harangues and sneers, the less wise he, or the government, appears to be. The time may well come when, at a time of frayed tempers and weakened credibility, a self-important, snarky or ill-timed tweet will have the exact opposite of its intention to correct or intimidate. For example, he keeps squeaking about squeezing Mexican money for "the wall," but that government has said unequivocally they will not contribute. What foreign policy gain does Trump hope to achieve by persisting?
The president should be his own best advocate, not constantly in need of the care and feeding of his minder acolytes to defend or interpret his latest tirade.
Daily bread-and-circus appeals to the electoral minority of Trump's misled and reflexive base, that are dangled to sustain the illusion of a capable office, do not begin to justify the potential risk of a rupture with nuclear-armed Pakistan or an ally.
Mr. Trump is on very thin ice with his own citizens. His daily tweets most clearly express his chronic contempt for any party that takes a dim view of his garbled policies and sentences, that thereby declines to hold him in esteem.
Sorry to say, there is scant credibility in the fake screeds of this fluke Caesar.
4
The president’s unstable behavior surely comes as no surprise to the global community. Poking a stick into the North Korean hornets nest is neither diplomatic nor wise. If the world community is troubled by the provocative tweets, just think of how terrified are White House aides and West Wing serfs after the blockbuster revelations in Steve Bannon’s kiss-and-tell history of this presidency. They absorb the presidential swearing and cursing up close and personal every day and are in direct line of fire from their dreaded boss. Global leaders see the tweet taunts but White House minions are in danger every day.
1
It's really surprising that the world is still trying to search meaning in what is essentially meaningless.
69
Only a dolt would refer to himself as "like, really smart." Unfortunately, as "Fire and Fury" demonstrates on almost every page, the Donald isn't smart enough to realize how intellectually challenged he is or how foolish his tweets make him sound, which leaves non-believers with the impression the man is both dumb and dangerous.
There's no method to his madness. Trump's "success" isn't based on qualities he has but on what he lacks, starting with the awareness, integrity, and intelligence that would keep him from making a fool of himself by constantly lying. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that it's easy to fool some of the people all of the time by feeding them lies they want to hear. At best, that makes him a con artist. At worst, a desperate and despicable psychopath.
64
It is difficult to imagine Albert Einstein referring to himself as "really smart" or as a genius. Trump trumpets about attending Wharton; however he didn't get an MBA.
I just wish his fingers and mouth would stop working
13
It's amazing they still work because his brain stopped working properly a long time ago.
This truly is - The Winter of Our NO Content...
5
Listening to Stephen Miller have a meltdown sounding like a fool yesterday with Jake Tapper, put on a show for his audience of one. Miller who is a Trump Bootlicker of the highest order, and the number one Trump policy adviser should frighten everyone for his embarrassing performance, by the way who says "dinasty" instead of "dynasty".....a pseudo elitist.
Anyone who has watched Trump through the years, the campaign, listened to him on Howard Stern, on the Billy Bush bus or in his many diatribes on twitter, since being president, already know that this narcissist and pathological liar that makes EVERYTHING about himself, knows the book "Fire and Fury" rings totally true.
How many smart people or even successful self made people brag about how smart they are, stable or call themselves geniuses; only people that are insecure and not that smart at all, or more pointedly a DOPE. Donald Trump was self-made with Daddy's money and help, period.
For all the hyperbole of the people around Trump, hired to baby sit the infant President, McMaster, Mattis, Congressional GOP Leaders and especially John Kelly, they can't be viewed as anything other than enablers to the most incompetent man to ever sit in the Oval Office.
You don't just sit there and ignore an ignorant, incompetent, unstable and a obviously unfit man in office by some misguided sense of duty; your foremost duty is to the country, the constitution and not the man.
Trump is a National Disgrace.
91
I was struck by how bizarre and dissociative Miller's flat affect was during Tapper's interview. All I could guffaw was that "this was really weird stuff". This made me reread some of the previous pieces on his background from Vanity Fair et al.
Things that struck me about Miller.
A loner.
No known close relationships.
Suppressed anger (the pizza box story).
Enjoys being the outlier, the proverbial contrarian.
Thinks he is smarter than everyone else.
Somewhere in his rearing he developed a severe sense of insecurity (of which he is unconscious).
All of the above also apply to Trump. Surprise
But what was particularly chilling from reading these articles:
He is not Trump's shill.
He knows what he wants (nativist America).
He is hardworking, ambitious, and patient.
Most of all, he is dedicated and dangerous, and he needs to be taken seriously.
Trump in his twitter rants in trying to assure the people of America and the world has said that he is a stable genius, well If by stable he’s implying that he has the brains of a horse or the rear side of a horse, I will not argue with that!
This man needs to get a life and get out of this job which he has no ability for and never will!
4
Stop paying attention to him. No more nyt headlines about tweets, please. Reprint the daily tweets in the opinion or arts section with commentary on grammar and syntax, contradictions, ulterior motives, and mental stability of the author. Teach the world to ignore him.
16
Yes, there is disorder, it's called a mental disorder which is clearly what this so-called President exhibits, day in and day out. You don't need to read about how he is dysfunctional in a book, all you have to do is...see him and hear him. And for those folks who like playing nice and not calling it what it is because they are "not psychiatrists", fact is that anyone can recognize a mentally disturbed person on the street and call 911 or an ambulance, that's 99% of how the mentally disturbed wind up in a hospital...someone other than a mental health professional sees it and calls for help. We all know crazy when we see it, let's stop kidding ourselves, this man is mentally unhinged.
33
Unclear as to Trumpistan foreign policy? Ask Adlesons, Kochs, Mercers, et al.
23
The world loves Trump. The NYT simply does not report on these people.
1
P
That is because The world you speak of doesn’t exist in reality. No one but evangelicals, the uneducated and the 1% like trump because he is truly vile.
2
The really meaningful disorder is carefully cynically hidden in Donald Trump's mental and physical medical health care records diagnoses, medications and family medical history.
While neither General John "Empty Barrel" Kelly nor James "Mad Dog" Mattis have any civilian governing political experience or talent. Nor did either man win any votes in 2016. Kelly and Mattis are clearly incapable of baby sitting an ignorant immature intemperate and insecure lazy greedy treacherous 71 year old "man" bent on tweeting while watching the Fox Ministry of Propaganda and eating Mickey D. cheeseburgers.
22
"This is our commander in chief. Think about it." Right now these words from the president of the Council on Foreign Relations should be addressed to our Republican controlled House and Senate. Come November 2018, the voteers should carefully consider Mr. Haass' words.
13
Credibility??? We have none, thanks to Trumps " election ". This Regime is a B grade movie mash-up. Politics, Crime and a huuuuge budget Disaster Film, combined. Thanks, GOP. NOVEMBER.
20
Donald has said several times now that the Russia investigation is making us "look foolish" in the eyes of the world. The only people who might think that are the dictators he admires so much. They hate our constitution as much as he does.
8
Trump has inherited the fruits of 8 BHO years, i.e., America FP being ignored. No one anywhere believed Obama had any leeway in conducting US Foreign Policy, including him. He, nor any other, were ever under any delusion, that a man in identity crisis; lawyer, law professor, community organizer, long shot politician -- all well within a decade, would be entrusted with much more than a ceremonial mantle. Which cultivated a given course, was and is worth a fortune. That course, is the identity BHO now seeks.
The differences, not only in management style as well as expressing opinion, are not only rooted in personality development, but in life's seasonings.
This kind of idiocy is terrifying.
It’s not just his foolish and dangerous pronouncements on foreign policy that are the problem. Virtually all of his words demean this country in one way or another. I’ve never before heard anyone older than a middle-schooler say "I'm, like, smart." Barron can probably express himself better.
39
Trump is an 70-year old blustering bully with no sense of diplomacy or America's role in promoting stable national relationships among many diverse worldviews. He is a disgrace to America.
Ignore his tweets as simply the background noise of pandering to his 30% base of disenchanted American populace. The "angry GOP base" is composed largely of those who will not take personal responsibility for their own circumstances.
Pick up and move to areas where decent-paying jobs are plentiful or go to a community college and obtain marketable skills. So tired of hearing about the "plight" of the older white working class voters who have more opportunities here than almost anywhere else in the world.
The world is changing at an accelerating pace, and only those who refuse to accept this are being left behind in this global economy.
37
It is his style. Much of the world has got used to it.
Countries where Trump's policies have high approval include not only Russia but also India, Vietnam, Philippines, Kenya and Ghana.
They NYT does not see these countries and looks instead at Denmark and Sweden with loving eyes.
Somehow the New York Times does not know that there are countries where people do not have blue eyes.
Sorry for the dig, but why this obsession with Nordic countries? It is embarrassing.
1
Those Nordic countries don’t have murderers for leaders.
3
Well, everyone knows that the president is a joke and a danger to global security, the environment, and any reputation we may have had as a nation, but no one with power is willing to do something, so please just stop updating us on the humiliation and let us know when our particular city needs to be evacuated.
12
Some doctor should prescribe a semi recumbent exercise bike to put in his bedroom. Put a music stand with a laptop on it. Then insist he pedal while he reads or watches the news. Maybe a little music. Your perspective of the outrages you see and read about is definitely improved. Great way to start the day.
2
The USA has lost it's face and credibility on the international stage. Even our allies have lost faith in the US's ability to lead and have moral standards.
16
Yeah, Trump's tweets represent the voice of Trump and the US government. Except when they don't. Like that time that Trump more or less admitted that he knew Flynn was lying to the FBI before he tried to lean on Comey to drop the investigation, therefore obstructing justice. In that case, Trump's lawyer had to jump in and say that he was the author of the tweet.
Maybe they could just do a blanket statement that Trump's tweets are the official word of the US President, unless they admit to criminal behavior, in which case someone else must have send them.
2
Reading the names of foreign leaders and their reactions to Trump I was struck by the thought that Donald Trump is America's equivalent of Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Remember him? The firebrand traffic engineer turned president who was always stirring the pot of nationalism.
6
Good. Shake things up. I'm tired of the world predicting and taking us for granted.
The stock market is booming...with a lot of new foreign investment...so we can't be all that bad if they are trusting us with their money.
Trump is a train wreck in some ways...and honestly...we need a bit of that.
What peace process? It's been a sham for decades...both parties in the US and both sides in the Middle East play games with the whole thing. It's time to shake it up a bit.
And Tom, who is going to put the pieces back together after the "shakeup"|? Who is going to clean up the train wreck? And which of our soon to be former allies will come to our aid when we need them?
5
Trump's tweets are always without nuance. . .they are stark comments in simple 'right vs. wrong' terms. This simple reason they are found to be acceptable to so many Americans is the preceding decades of POTUSs who appeared (to many Americans) to be waffling and never taking a firm position.
The shame is that our modern world is far from a simple 'right vs. wrong' place. We must compromise to ensure peaceful coexistance. But, compromise vacated the USA's body politic, except to meet the most fringe elements of the parties.
Americans will never again have the trust of the world, and Americans must recognize it is entirely of their own making because they voted for this beginning with President Reagan who was the first POTUS to use focus groups to hone speeches and who's campaign adviser, Lee Atwater took great pride in initiating the 'dirty' campaign as normal.
9
It doesn't take a genius to know that Trump is not one. He is nothing more than a great con artist. It's a shame that the Republicans and a lot of good people can't see this. As they pretend that all is well and hope for the best, our country is becoming more vulnerable to numerous threats and complex challenges at home and around the world.
5
Since at least the 1950's (recall the attacks on Adlai Stevenson as an "egghead"), our society has increasingly devalued education and become downright anti-intellectual.
The ascendancy of Donald Trump is merely the natural consequence of a nation that heaps scorn on learning, knowledge, and the concept of humility.
50
Thank-you, Larry. You put that nicely.
One of my first thoughts after the election was that we were bearing witness to a failure of the American education system. Too many of our citizens cannot read well enough - were not taught to read well enough - to digest anything of substance. They do not think critically, nor do they validate the information they receive through multiple sources. Their news is from entertainment "news" sources, sensational tabloid headlines, and gossip. Anything else requires skills that they have not learned but were supposed to learn in school. America has been dumbing down its educational system since the eighties - and seems to be too arrogant to admit the problem and start modeling better, more successful systems. We are the richest country in the world - and we spend it in all the wrong places. We have become an entertainment over substance nation. And we will suffer mightily for it.
1
No. The ascendancy of Trump is due to the nation's desire for a leader who puts American interests first. Their support has produced change that will boost the American economy and improve the lives of hard working Americans.
1
Th world ( let alone the U.S. ) cannot be run in 140 character or less.
That word knows this truth and although it continues to read the characters and show outrage and concern, the true connections are still behind the scenes with actual diplomacy.
What is being conveyed is for countries to bide time and wait until this abomination of an administration is voted out ( or impeached ) and replaced with grown ups once again.
10
A rather shallow viewpoint here. Trump takes tweets/messages to the people and indeed the entire world. In doing so, he bypasses both liberal and conservative news media. More importantly, tweeting plays an important role in him setting the agenda and controlling the narrative. He simply owns it as no president has ever done. Importantly, he takes five minutes to tweet out a controversial message; the Times and rest of the media spends all day analyzing and struggling with his tweets. Often, it's just a distraction. Watch what is going on behind the scene when he tweets.
2
We are watching what's going on behind the scenes in horror. This deranged jerk is nothing but destructive.
America has no more credibility in the international community, and it will be a hard fought battle to regain it. Not simply because of Trump -- international leadership is far more sophisticated than to hang on to Trump's every deranged tweet.
Unlike our leadership, leaders of other countries have examined what exactly has brought Trump to his position of absolute power in this country. They see a Republican Congress that cowers before his rabid base. They see a Cabinet whose members literally grovel before him. They see that this country has installed a dictator. And they see that those who oppose this tyrant (supposedly the majority of us) remain far too silent.
So what will other nations do? What our nation used to do, when conducting international relationships -- ignore fascist states until their acts begin to affect those outside their borders. Western nations will continue to advance, hoping that the damage Trump causes will be limited by our own borders.
The international community knows that it can do nothing to check Trump, as long as the majority of us remain silent, and so they ignore his deranged comments as much as they possibly can. As long as citizens of other nations may remain relatively immune from the tyranny of our "leader", they will do nothing, nor should they.
The only danger in waiting passively, though, is one learned on the European continent some eighty years ago -- and that is that fascism can almost never be restrained.
8
Mr Trump tells something like 3 whoppers a day according to the folks who seriously track such things. How much of a surprise is that really for a guy who used to sell condos while brazenly lying about the number of stories in the building? Literally you just can't count on this guy to tell the truth. All that really seems to mean much is his emotional state which unfortunately isn't well governed. The currency of his word seems to me to be transparently without value. Don't you think just about everyone internationally would think so?
3
The world sees disorder in Trump's tweets because Trump has a disordered mind and, like any 2-year-old, demands instant gratification. Republicans in Congress don't care because Trump, in his craving for "wins," will sign anything put before him. But they will rue the day when a real crisis faces his White House. And, hopefully, voters will make them rue the day every election hence.
9
Honestly, you're going to maintain we have credibility left to lose?
Another gift to Trump, love NYT.
As you note Trump has attacked our every ally, scattershot and vicious.
What you have yet to do is give us the facts. The brain drain from US to the world has been underway for a year now, and gaining momentum, what;s that cost us? How big is it now?
Our trading partners are literally scurrying about the world searching for more amenable sources for goods, what's that cost us?
You speak about Europe and elsewhere like this their first time at the rodeo, as it is ours. They've seen this act before. They know where, absent responsible behavior by others in control, this leads. Their worried, they're scared, and they are already taking steps to avoid getting hurt in our potential melt down.
Somehow, of late, when you address issues of The Trump Effect, you turn all circumspect and philosophical, avoiding direct observation and clear analysis. The US in the world today is a pariah, a bully already unmasked as the self-involved scaredy-cat many suspected was hiding in there.
The impact of Trump will plague us for years, even if he disappears tomorrow. Our allies need us far less, and know they cannot make long term plans that involve us.
Our erstwhile business partners have been searching, and discovering, new markets for goods that don't include us.
And the best you can do is this milquetoast fluff.
4
I think NYT is stating the blatantly obvious. It was obvious as soon as Trump withdrew from TPP. We’ve been trading in the Pacific since the age of clipper ships until Trump threw it all in the trash can.
A year later, as reported today, American cattle farmers have lost a market in Japan for beef. Trump’s tweets are consequential because they often do preview actual policy changes.
This is just one example. NYT needs to drill down and analyze these kinds of repercussions. Quit repeating the bit about his base. Give us unvarnished truth about these repercussions on the front page. I’ll bet you’ll sell more papers, too!
5
Hail to the Twit-In-Chief !
The world is so proud of our national disgrace.
There's an unqualified, dangerous raccoon in the Oval Office tearing the Oval Office, the country and the world apart.
Resist !
Register !
Vote !
104
The POTUS is winning on every front. North Korea is being forced to deal first with the South and ultimately disarm after decades of strategic patience. Antifa and violent leftist groups are being recognized for what they are.
The economy is surging. The government is shrinking. Leftist media outlets are being forced to confront their continued misrepresentations of reality IE polls etc.
Isis is nearly defunct. You name it and DJT is making our world a better and safer place.
1
You must be one of the Top 1% Global Financial Elite Robber Barons who want to take over the world, MR. S.
If not, you're just a brain-washed fool like the rest of The Con Don's supposed supporters. Go fight your own war and kill/be killed. Leave the rest of us alone.
8
Socrtes, on behalf of the three orphaned raccoons I have raised over the years I strenuously object to your linkage of those intelligent creatures with our irrational and infantile president who would not win an IQ test with any raccoon I have ever known.
6
The Con Don and his International Mafia want WW3. They have stolen control of half the wealth of the world and want WE THE PEOPLE to pay for their power wars with OUR lives and OUR money.
Reuters's has an exclusive article today saying that The Con Don plans to use OUR taxpayer-funded diplomats and Pentagon to sell arms to anyone who will buy.
The article says, "The Trump administration is nearing completion of a new “Buy American” plan that calls for U.S. military attaches and diplomats to help drum up billions of dollars more in business overseas for the American weapons industry, going beyond the assistance they currently provide, U.S. officials said" It goes on to say, "This expanded government effort on behalf of American arms makers, together with looser restrictions on weapons exports and more favorable treatment of sales to non-NATO allies and partners, could bring additional billions of dollars in deals and more jobs, a senior U.S. official said, without providing specifics."
WE THE PEOPLE are the only ones who can/will stop them and NOW is the time. Hit The Streets on January 20/21 with a sign that says, "NO WW3". See you there.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/WomensMarch2018USA/events/
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-weapons/exclusive-trump-to-...
52
I fear you are right.
I also fear that meglamaniac Donald, an out-of-shape, nasty tempered, mentally challenged, older-than-his- years, miserable man, who lives on TV and junk food is terrified of his own impending mortality (aren't we all...). It is a hard reality that he cannot bluster, bully, or lie his way out of. So he wants to bring the whole planet down around him.
Please - US Senate - this guy is scary and is bonkers. Do something.
That’s reassuring to hear that we have some credibility left.
I thought we lost it all since Trump came on the scene.
20
If we could obtain a clear picture of who and what Trump is it would be possible to refine a state of loyalty that we could adopt towards him. All he does is create an image of prejudice, chaos and vulnerability and he creates it with a sledge hammer. It is hard for a pensive human being to come to a conclusion about who and what he is behind the display of neuroses that he presents.
Stable genius? Genius is an ambiguous term having no real meaning outside of rhetoric and a term having no female gender, so, both we and himself are stuck with his sexist description of himself.
He is just another a goofy guy who thinks he is the greatest but without the skill to prove it.
29
Graham:
Donald Trump is a narcissist of the first magnitude.
He has lived a pampered life starting with the 27,000 rental apartments that his father built in NY (using as much government money as possible) and turned over to Donald when daddy Fred retired, suffering from Alzheimers.
He thinks the Sun revolves around him.
5
When Kennedy sent the American Ambassador to inform De Gaul that we were going to confront the USSR about the missiles in Cuba, and that we had the photos to prove it, De Gaul said "I do not need to see the pictures. The word of the American president is good enough for me."
That had been the general attitude of the world toward the USA from 1789 until Jan 20 2017.
It is impossible to even conceive of any world leader saying that today
146
"That had been the general attitude of the world toward the USA from 1789 until Jan 20 2017."
Not quite true: Remember Obama famous Red Line?
So is Trump foreign policy any different Obama's: say one thing and do nothing?