Donald Trump Has Weakened Allies And 'Wrecked U.S. Credibility' Says Elizabeth Warren, Vowing To Repair Damage If Elected
BY KHALEDA RAHMAN
Donald Trump has weakened the country's relationship with its allies and wrecked U.S. credibility abroad, Sen. Elizabeth Warren has said. She vowed to repair the damage if she is elected president.
In an op-ed for The Guardian under the headline "Donald Trump has destroyed American leadership – I'll restore it," Warren claimed three years of the Trump presidency has put the country's alliances under "enormous strain."
"For seven decades, America's strength, security and prosperity have been underpinned by our unmatched network of treaty alliances, cemented in shared democratic values and a recognition of our common security," she wrote. "But after three years of Donald Trump's insults and antics, our alliances are under enormous strain."
The Democratic presidential candidate highlighted the president's recent visit to London for the NATO summit as an example of the damage done by Trump's "hostility" to America's "closest partners." A tape that captured several NATO leaders appearing to mock Trump at a Buckingham Palace reception went viral this week.
The clip showed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appearing to gossip about Trump with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Britain's Princess Anne.
"He takes a 40-minute press conference off the top," an animated Trudeau said, an apparent reference to Trump's long-winded remarks making leaders late for other events. Trudeau later confirmed he was referring to Trump's lengthy news conference with reporters earlier that day.
"You just watched his team's jaws drop to the floor," Trudeau also said in the clip. He later said that was a reference to Trump announcing his decision to hold the next G7 meeting at Camp David.
Trump on Wednesday branded Trudeau "two-faced" and said the Canadian Prime Minister was probably upset that he had mentioned Canada falls short of the NATO target of spending 2 percent of its gross domestic product on defense. Trump then scrapped a press conference and flew back to the U.S. early.
In Sunday's op-ed, Warren described Trump's behavior at the NATO summit as "appalling as it was typical."
She wrote that the gathering of NATO leaders should have been an "unequivocal" celebration marking the 70th anniversary of the most successful alliance in history—but said the damage done by Trump's hostility was "on full display."
Warren noted that the success of the NATO alliance was not "easy or obvious" but a "hard-won" accomplishment based on the idea that the U.S. is not made stronger by weakening its allies. "But that is just what Trump has done, repeatedly and deliberately," she wrote.
Warren added that Trump treats U.S. allies as "burdens" yet embraces autocratic leaders like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-Un. She also blasted the president for casting doubt on the U.S. commitment to Nato at a time when a "resurgent" Russia continues to pose a threat.
Warren also cited Trump's blindsiding of the U.S.'s Kurdish allies in Syria by ordering a "precipitate and uncoordinated" withdrawal of troops in October. She accused him of attempting to "shake down" South Korea and Japan, mistaking security alliances for "protection rackets," apparently referencing reports that Trump is demanding those countries pay more to cover the cost of keeping U.S. troops stationed in Asia.
She also claimed Trump has "wrecked U.S. credibility by unilaterally tearing up our international agreements on arms control, non-proliferation and climate change."
Warren added that as president, she would take action to renew the country's "strategic and moral" leadership, starting with rejoining the Paris climate accord, the United Nations' compact on migration and reaffirming the U.S.' "rock-solid" commitment to NATO and its Article 5 provisions of collective defense.
"We can and will protect ourselves and each other—our countries, our citizens and our democracies," she concluded.
The White House has been contacted for comment.
Donald Trump has weakened the country's relationship with its allies and wrecked U.S. credibility abroad, Sen. Elizabeth Warren has said. She vowed to repair the damage if she is elected president.
In an op-ed for The Guardian under the headline "Donald Trump has destroyed American leadership – I'll restore it," Warren claimed three years of the Trump presidency has put the country's alliances under "enormous strain."
"For seven decades, America's strength, security and prosperity have been underpinned by our unmatched network of treaty alliances, cemented in shared democratic values and a recognition of our common security," she wrote. "But after three years of Donald Trump's insults and antics, our alliances are under enormous strain."
The Democratic presidential candidate highlighted the president's recent visit to London for the NATO summit as an example of the damage done by Trump's "hostility" to America's "closest partners." A tape that captured several NATO leaders appearing to mock Trump at a Buckingham Palace reception went viral this week.
The clip showed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appearing to gossip about Trump with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Britain's Princess Anne.
"He takes a 40-minute press conference off the top," an animated Trudeau said, an apparent reference to Trump's long-winded remarks making leaders late for other events. Trudeau later confirmed he was referring to Trump's lengthy news conference with reporters earlier that day.
"You just watched his team's jaws drop to the floor," Trudeau also said in the clip. He later said that was a reference to Trump announcing his decision to hold the next G7 meeting at Camp David.
Trump on Wednesday branded Trudeau "two-faced" and said the Canadian Prime Minister was probably upset that he had mentioned Canada falls short of the NATO target of spending 2 percent of its gross domestic product on defense. Trump then scrapped a press conference and flew back to the U.S. early.
In Sunday's op-ed, Warren described Trump's behavior at the NATO summit as "appalling as it was typical."
She wrote that the gathering of NATO leaders should have been an "unequivocal" celebration marking the 70th anniversary of the most successful alliance in history—but said the damage done by Trump's hostility was "on full display."
Warren noted that the success of the NATO alliance was not "easy or obvious" but a "hard-won" accomplishment based on the idea that the U.S. is not made stronger by weakening its allies. "But that is just what Trump has done, repeatedly and deliberately," she wrote.
Warren added that Trump treats U.S. allies as "burdens" yet embraces autocratic leaders like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-Un. She also blasted the president for casting doubt on the U.S. commitment to Nato at a time when a "resurgent" Russia continues to pose a threat.
Warren also cited Trump's blindsiding of the U.S.'s Kurdish allies in Syria by ordering a "precipitate and uncoordinated" withdrawal of troops in October. She accused him of attempting to "shake down" South Korea and Japan, mistaking security alliances for "protection rackets," apparently referencing reports that Trump is demanding those countries pay more to cover the cost of keeping U.S. troops stationed in Asia.
She also claimed Trump has "wrecked U.S. credibility by unilaterally tearing up our international agreements on arms control, non-proliferation and climate change."
Warren added that as president, she would take action to renew the country's "strategic and moral" leadership, starting with rejoining the Paris climate accord, the United Nations' compact on migration and reaffirming the U.S.' "rock-solid" commitment to NATO and its Article 5 provisions of collective defense.
"We can and will protect ourselves and each other—our countries, our citizens and our democracies," she concluded.
The White House has been contacted for comment.
SOURCE: NEWSWEEK
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