QOTD: The Failed "Peacemaker"

 

As he prepares to bask in a dictator-like military parade, the ignorant buffoon occupying the Oval Office has always engaged in the kind of bullshit that you would expect from a life-long con man and grifter, steeped in New York real estate "deal making." However, as Michael Crowley and Edward Wong write in their article, the Malignant Fascist's bluster, braggadocio, and especially his "deal making" reputation haven't impressed nations that are involved in real life conflicts. From their opening paragraphs (but read the entire article):

"Donald J. Trump may be known for his combative, vindictive style. But as a candidate for president in 2024, he cast himself as a man of peace. His toughness and the 'respect' he enjoys from foreign leaders, he insisted, would enable him to settle conflicts almost with a snap of his fingers.

'My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier,' Mr. Trump said in his January inaugural address.

The war in Ukraine could be ended in as little as 24 hours, he said. He would knock heads to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas to stop the fighting in Gaza.

And he said he would strike a nuclear deal with Iran, 'because the consequences are impossible. We have to make a deal.'

A day after Israel began a massive attack on Iran, however, Mr. Trump’s peace projects are in tatters. The fighting in Ukraine rages on and Mr. Trump appears to have lost patience with efforts to end that war. In Gaza, both Israel and Hamas cling to basic positions they staked out long before Mr. Trump took office.

And instead of announcing a new nuclear deal with Tehran, a president who often denounces America’s history of 'stupid' Middle East wars is trying to navigate a dangerous conflict between Iran and Israel, the closest U.S. partner in the region."  (our emphasis)

Some nations have tried flattery and compliments to stave off the MF's wrongheaded policies (think the UK on tariffs), while most have pushed back on his nonsense, from Canada and Mexico, to Denmark and the European Union. By now, most know they're dealing with an ignorant charlatan with a minimal understanding of history or international affairs, but dangerous in his reckless view of the world.

(photo: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)