Sunday, July 21, 2019

Trump’s Dictator Envy Isn’t Funny Anymore

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/06/trump-g20-osaka-putin-mbs-kim-ivanka.html?fbclid=IwAR0TgtY9VR0PmIa0dTjwdTb72kT2p5VTf8gvgRVZi-TQHMyVTe_M33FbndA
"Trump may think his move toward authoritarianism will embellish America’s power too, but it’s having the opposite effect. The rest of the world is laughing, though in some cases nervously. It was Macron’s press office that publicly released the embarrassing video of Ivanka trying to act like one of the leaders. Putin must be thanking whatever god he worships whenever Trump pops him a wink and a grin. China’s President Xi Jinping is slowly, patiently, moving the trade talks in his favor—and nudging America’s allies, who are regarding Washington’s security guarantees with growing skepticism, to cuddle up with Beijing instead. So, yes, laugh or sigh at those tweets and outbursts that illustrate, yet again, Trump’s crudeness or cluelessness. But watch more closely what he’s doing, which drifts he’s following, and the effect he’s having on what our country is becoming and—as a result of that—our place in the world. That’s the main show."