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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrump is trying to destabilize the European Union
As President Trump heads to Europe next month for the NATO summit and then a historic meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, his personal attacks on the European Union and other pillars of the Western order are overshadowing his own administrations attempts to reassure allies that the United States still believes in the transatlantic project it has led since the 1940s.
During a private meeting at the White House in late April, Trump was discussing trade with French President Emmanuel Macron. At one point, he asked Macron, Why dont you leave the E.U.? and said that if France exited the union, Trump would offer it a bilateral trade deal with better terms than the E.U. as a whole gets from the United States, according to two European officials. The White House did not dispute the officials account, but declined to comment.
Lets set aside for a moment the point that Trumps proposal reveals a basic lack of understanding of Macrons views and those of the people who elected him. This is an instance of the president of the United States offering an incentive to dismantle an organization of Americas allies, against stated U.S. government policy.
Trump has been publicly trashing the E.U. and NATO since his campaign, but the pace and viciousness of his attacks have increased. Just this week, at a rally in North Dakota, Trump said: The European Union, of course, was set up to take advantage of the United States, to attack our piggy bank. He then complained about a $150 billion trade deficit with the E.U., inflating the figure.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/trump-is-trying-to-destabilize-the-european-union/2018/06/28/729cb066-7b10-11e8-aeee-4d04c8ac6158_story.html?utm_term=.ebbe9aa8f16e
During a private meeting at the White House in late April, Trump was discussing trade with French President Emmanuel Macron. At one point, he asked Macron, Why dont you leave the E.U.? and said that if France exited the union, Trump would offer it a bilateral trade deal with better terms than the E.U. as a whole gets from the United States, according to two European officials. The White House did not dispute the officials account, but declined to comment.
Lets set aside for a moment the point that Trumps proposal reveals a basic lack of understanding of Macrons views and those of the people who elected him. This is an instance of the president of the United States offering an incentive to dismantle an organization of Americas allies, against stated U.S. government policy.
Trump has been publicly trashing the E.U. and NATO since his campaign, but the pace and viciousness of his attacks have increased. Just this week, at a rally in North Dakota, Trump said: The European Union, of course, was set up to take advantage of the United States, to attack our piggy bank. He then complained about a $150 billion trade deficit with the E.U., inflating the figure.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/trump-is-trying-to-destabilize-the-european-union/2018/06/28/729cb066-7b10-11e8-aeee-4d04c8ac6158_story.html?utm_term=.ebbe9aa8f16e
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Trump is trying to destabilize the European Union (Original Post)
demmiblue
Jun 2018
OP
SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)1. It's what Putin wants so he must please his leader
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)2. Russia from the east, U.S. from the west.
What a coincidence.
Another item on a to-dolist that should have never had to be started: Outlaw undocumented communications between our head of state and foreign powers.
leftyladyfrommo
(18,874 posts)3. It has to be Putin. Trump is not this smart.
He doesn't understand any of this.
Orsino
(37,428 posts)4. Putin is trying to destabilize the European Union.
Trump is just a big tool.