Trump living up to my expectations

Trump is exactly what he is, a disruptive cock in the Year of the Cock. And his performance so far is meeting all my expectations, and my confidence in him is growing a few more notches. In his American First policy, Trump is roughing up  allies and breaking ties with everyone, friends or foes. The staunchest American ally, the European Union, is now as much an enemy as China and Mexico. Trump even abused Nato as a useless, out of date and dysfunctional organization.

The European countries are in a state of shock. They could not believe in what Trump is saying and doing. The confidence in Trump’s America is taking a big knock. Britain’s PM May’s visit only served to confirm that Britain is not an ally unless it serves the interest of America First. Britain and Europe are now scurrying for new trading partners. They are seeing the impending breaking down of the existing world order and free trade system. They are looking for someone to take the lead as the new leader to protect the existing world order.

The irony of it all is that Communist China is presenting itself as the leader of choice given the challenge posed by the Americans to dismantle what the Western countries have built since WW2. And Xi Jinping is looking like a good candidate to fill the vacuum. There is no doubt that European countries would want to keep the free trade system and world order as it is. There is no doubt that China is benefiting from the same system and world order and Xi Jinping’s call for globalization and free trade are genuine, for the good of China and countries of the world. European countries are now looking towards China as a new friend and new leadership.

Trump’s attack on the Arab and Muslim world is going see a backlash that is more than what he could expect. The Arab/Muslim world is turning against Trump and his America.  They would not sit idle and let Trump slap them left and right. They could and would retaliate, unless they are so daft and dumb. The fear of terrorism and the war against terrorism could see America taking the ISIS and related Muslim terrorist organizations alone.

Trump is all out to make Mexico another enemy of America with his Great Wall of Trump and finding all ways to tax the Mexicans to pay for it, including sounding out an intention to raise import tariffs by 20% across the board with no exceptions to allies and non allied countries. What this means to the Europeans is less trade but at the same time demanding that the European countries pay for American military protection. The combination is rattling the minds of EU and Nato countries. Unbelieveable, but they got to believe it. This is Donald Trump, the man or American dictator in the making that would do what he thinks is right.

Peter Goodman in a Reuter report filed this, ‘Some allies are shifting focus to other potential partners for new sources of trade and investment, relationships that could influence political, diplomatic and military ties. Many are looking to China, which has adroitly capitalized on a leadership vacuum in world affairs by offering itself — ironies notwithstanding — as a champion for global engagement.

“We’ve always said that America is our best friend,” Jeroen Dijsselbloem, president of the Eurogroup — comprising finance ministers from countries sharing the euro currency — said in an interview with The New York Times …“If that’s no longer the case, if that’s what we need to understand from Donald Trump, then of course Europe will look for new friends.”

“China is a very strong candidate for that,” he added. “The Chinese involvement in Europe in terms of investment is already very high and expanding. If you push away your friends, you mustn’t be surprised if the friends start looking for new friends.”