During his first presidential campaign in 2016, Donald Trump promised, “The world is going to respect us again.” In his farewell address on leaving the White House in 2021, Donald Trump declared that because of his stewardship, “The world respects us again.” In his inaugural address a year ago at the start of his second term, he predicted: “From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation.” And of course in so many words, Trump ceaseless brags, “I am making America great and the world loves me.” So how’s that working out for us? Monday Germany issued a travel advisory to its citizens planning trips to the U.S., warning, “In Minneapolis and other cities, demonstrations sometimes lead to violent clashes with immigration and security authorities.” It urges travelers to “stay away from crowds where violence might occur,” and to be aware of the “increased risk of politically motivated violence.” It sure doesn’t sound like we are the envy of Germany. And Germany’s not the only one. The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, France, Denmark, Belgium, Portugal, Finland, and the Netherlands, all for one reason or another have issued warnings to their citizens in the past few months to be vigilant when they come to America. Meantime, word reached Italy that ICE agents will be sent to Milan to supplement security for Americans during the Winter Olympics that kick off in just a week. Having seen ICE agents in action here in America, many aren’t thrilled. Italy’s foreign minister tried to reduce the anxiety by telling citizens, “It’s not like they’re the ones on the streets of Minneapolis. It’s not like the SS are coming.” But how sad is it that he has to say that because just like many Americans, Italians think ICE is like the SS? Meantime, a former prime minister said that no matter why ICE might come, “We cannot allow this. Our government tried to downplay the situation, but these latest statements speak clearly of ICE’s determination to come and ensure ‘security’ in Italy as well. Enough with the bowing.” Milan’s mayor is the angriest of all. We “don’t need ICE,” he told a local radio station. “They’re not welcome in Milan. This is a militia that kills.” Then he echoed the former prime minister: “Could we ever say ‘no’ to Trump? This isn’t about severing relations or creating a diplomatic incident, but could we say ‘no?’” When Trump proclaimed at his inaugural that we will “be respected again all over the world” and “the envy of every nation,” is this what he had in mind? Canada’s Mark Carney, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Britain’s Keir Starmer, Poland’s Donald Tusk, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, Norway’s Jonas Gahr Støre, Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen, each in the past couple of weeks has made blistering statements about Trump— his disrespect for allies, his disrespect for soldiers who stood at America’s side in recent wars, his disrespect for sovereignty. At the end of the day, since the American people elected Donald Trump, those are blistering assessments about us. Share “The world is going to respect us again?” At risk of contradicting the rosy rhetoric of Trump and his sycophants, the world respects us less, not more, when Donald Trump is in the White House. Especially the world that shared our democratic values, the world that always stood with us through thick and thin. Some are even looking for new global friends as you read this. Even if Trump and movement get thrown into the trash heap of history, it will take a lot to get that world back. Leave a co |