Trump Goes To War With Top Allies Before G7 Meeting

In his continuing efforts to destroy the reputation and standing of the United States in the world, President Donald Trump on Thursday lashed out at the leaders of our key allies, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

In a series of tweets yesterday Trump took aim at our key trading partners who have criticized him for unilaterally imposing tariffs on their products.  Of course when he tweets things he never gets his facts straight, but that never bothers the president. He launched into especially harsh attacks on Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau:

“Prime Minister Trudeau is being so indignant, bringing up the relationship that the U.S. and Canada had over the many years and all sorts of other things…but he doesn’t bring up the fact that they charge us up to 300% on dairy — hurting our Farmers, killing our Agriculture!”

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He also added to his crosshairs French President Macron.

“Please tell Prime Minister Trudeau and President Macron that they are charging the U.S. massive tariffs and create non-monetary barriers. The EU trade surplus with the U.S. is $151 Billion, and Canada keeps our farmers and others out. Look forward to seeing them tomorrow.

This is just one example of how Trump twists the facts to suit his own biased policy ideas, and then lashes out at our friends like a child throwing a tantrum.

“Why isn’t the European Union and Canada informing the public that for years they have used massive Trade Tariffs and non-monetary Trade Barriers against the U.S. Totally unfair to our farmers, workers & companies. Take down your tariffs & barriers or we will more than match you!”

The annual G7 summit, which includes Canada, the US, the UK, France, Italy, Japan and Germany, begins on Friday in the town of La Malbaie in Quebec. Trump threatened not to go because he didn’t want to hear the other six countries criticize him for his ill-advised trade and environmental policies.  He now has agreed to go but will leave early, once again acting like a petulent child.

No other world leader, of course, uses Twitter to communicate important foreign and trade policies of their nation.  Not only does Donald Trump use Twitter to express his views, he also uses Twitter to attack people, including leaders of nations who are our most important trade and security partners.

Yesterday French President Macron said if Mr Trump wanted to be isolated, the six other nations would sign their own agreement “because these six countries represent values, they represent an economic market which has the weight of history behind it and which is now a true international force”.

The other countries have also said they would go their own way, in agreement with each other but not with the U.S., on the Iran nuclear deal.

Behind the scenes Trump has also been criticizing British Prime Minister Theresa May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.  They have not criticized Trump in public the way Trudeau and Macron have.

However, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Thursday lashed out at the American president, saying “Nothing President Trump is doing will make the world better, safer, or more peaceful.” He then added: “He knows that what he is doing is of direct detriment to Europe.” 

When asked how Germany would deal with the difficult Trump, Maas expressed what is no doubt the view of the other nations as well: “The only answer to ‘America First,’ is ‘Europe United,'” he said.

By being belligerent and  antagonistic toward our friends, Donald Trump has succeeded uniting them in the common purpose of opposing his policies.  We can only hope that he leaves his position as leader of the world’s largest economy before he does irreversible, lasting damage to the United States and to the world.

Leo Vidal

I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.