India and Brazil have much larger economies than Russia? So why not them?Earlier today, the New York Times reported that Chief of Staff John Kelly told senators what it's like working in the White House for Trump: "a miserable place to work." In Saturday morning's comparison between Trump and a buffoonish predecessor on the world stage from fin de siècle, Wilhelm II, German Kaiser from 1888 until 1918, my favorite similarity was Miranda Carter's observation that "One of the many things that Wilhelm was convinced he was brilliant at, despite all evidence to the contrary, was 'personal diplomacy,' fixing foreign policy through one-on-one meetings with other European monarchs and statesmen. In fact, Wilhelm could do neither the personal nor the diplomacy, and these meetings rarely went well."Over the weekend Trump claimed that on a 1-10 scale his relationships with world leaders is a solid 10. He's as delusion as Wilhelm was, who was saved by Woodrow Wilson from being hanged. None of the leaders of America's allies can even stand him. He's popular with fascists and authoritarians like himself-- especially Putin, who helped put him in the White House to harm America and break up NATO. Yesterday CNN reported that he doubled down on his call for Russia to be readmitted into the G7 and blamed his predecessor for Russia's aggression in Crimea. I wonder if anyone told the orange orangutan anything about the Crimea or even where it is.
"I think it would be an asset to have Russia back in," Trump said during an impromptu press conference at the summit. "I think it would be good for the world. I think it would be good for Russia. I think it would be good the United States. I think it would be good for all of the countries of the current G7. I think the G8 would be better."Russia was suspended from the group-- then known as the G8-- in 2014 after the majority of member countries allied against its annexation of Crimea. It was the first violation of a European country's borders since World War II.Trump suggested that Russia be allowed back into the global group despite their continued occupation of Crimea."I would say that the G8 is a more meaningful group than the G7, absolutely," Trump said. He also blamed former US President Barack Obama for Russia's move into that nation."You'll have to ask Obama, because he was the one that let Crimea get away" he said when asked about the annexation. "He allowed Russia to take Crimea. I may have had a much different attitude."Trump's advocacy for Russia's readmittance to the powerful group of industrialized nations-- which he first voiced on Friday-- comes despite consistent opposition from European allies.German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at a press conference Friday that there was consensus that Russia should not return to the G7."We agree that a return by Russia to the G7 format cannot happen as long as there isn't any substantial progress in regard to the problems with Ukraine. That was the common view," she said.Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters on Friday that "there are no grounds whatsoever for bringing Russia, with its current behavior, back into the G7.""We (have) always been clear we should engage with Russia where it is in our interests, but we need to remember why G8 became the G7, it was because Russia illegally annexed Crimea," a European diplomat said Friday. "Since then we have seen an increase in Russian misbehavior and attempts to undermine democracy in Europe. It is not appropriate for Russia to rejoin until we see it behaving responsibly. Putin should get nothing for free."This sentiment was echoed by a senior United Kingdom government source."The PM has always said we should engage with Russia but beware. We should remind ourselves why the G8 became the G7-- it was after Russia illegally annexed Crimea," the source said. "Before any conversations can take place about Russia rejoining, it needs to change its approach."Lawmakers in the United States have also condemned Trump's comments, which some have taken as the latest example of the US President's failure to condemn Russia for its interference in the 2016 election."The President has inexplicably shown our adversaries the deference and esteem that should be reserved for our closest allies," Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona said in a scathing statement Friday.Nebraska Republican Sen. Ben Sasse said in a statement, "Putin is not our friend and he is not the President's buddy. He is a thug using Soviet-style aggression to wage a shadow war against America, and our leaders should act like it."Former Vice President Joe Biden denounced Trump's remarks, writing on Twitter, "Putin's Russia invaded its neighbors, violated our sovereignty by undermining elections, and attacks dissidents abroad. Yet our President wants to reward him with a seat at the table while alienating our closest democratic allies. It makes no sense."Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Friday that Trump was turning US foreign policy "into an international joke, doing lasting damage to our country."
Trump made a spectacle of himself by arriving late and leaving early, adding nothing to the substantive discussions other than his school yard bullying and laughable bluster. He sat playing with his cell phone and tweeting while the adults talked about serious issues he doesn't like or even comprehend. He seems to think international meeting should be about foreigners kissing his fat ass and flattering him the way dictatorships do. As soon as he was told that the national leaders were to have working session on protecting the world's oceans and redoubling efforts to stave off catastrophic climate change, he fled for the exit-- and an impromptu press conference where he could spout off again and topics he likes-- like Putin, childish threats to our allies and, of course, America First.
