Global leaders continue to face a vortex of antagonistic behavior from the Trump administration. Their grief for America is our nation’s disgrace.
ON TARIFFS
Causing stress among global leaders currently is Trump’s aggressive tariff policies, which have developed rapidly since his inauguration. Trump has raised tariffs by as much as 50% for major trade partners, including the 10% tariffs on all imports announced April 2, shocking close allies and competitors alike.
Ches Thurber, a political science professor at NIU, explained global leaders are having two main responses to Trump’s tariffs: Accommodation and retaliation.
“(I think) we’re gonna see South Korea, Vietnam continue to try the appeasement approach. They just don’t have much coercive leverage over the United States. They have so much to lose with these tariffs put in place,” Thurber said. “But the bigger, more important actors, China and (the) European Union, are playing hardball back.”
On April 9, Trump announced a three-month pause on some additional tariffs, with the exception of those placed on China. Negotiations with other countries – such as South Korea and Japan – have begun immediately, and will undoubtedly continue shaping international perception of the U.S.
As of April 19, China has warned nations against conforming to any demands at the expense of its trade or risk retaliation from China as well.
A nation that prides itself on compassion and freedom should not feel it has succeeded when its trading partners are forced to walk on eggshells or establish disciplinary action.
Economic experts aren’t even sure what Trump thinks he’s doing with the tariffs. The economic impact is likely to be disastrous: An ironic result, given so many Trump voters chose the convicted felon as the 2024 election’s “lesser evil” for his promises to improve the economy.
But whether he grasps what he’s doing or not, it’d be silly to assume Trump won’t continue with this plan to provoke toxic trading relationships, no matter how senseless.
“He(‘s) doubling down, saying things like: ‘I (Trump) don’t care what this does to the stock market. I don’t care what this does to the economy. This, in the short term, this might put us into a recession, but I (Trump) have been saying for 30 years, but this is what the United States needs to do on tariffs.” Thurber said. “I (Thurber) encourage observers of President Trump to take him literally as well as seriously. When he says he means something, I think he means it.”
America has learned the hard way it must face Trump’s threats soberly. The globe is learning next.
ON INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY
The president’s inability to act with kindness has taken a toll on American international diplomacy as well.
Diplomacy requires some fluency in basic professionalism, humility and respect, of which Trump has none.
Trump and Vice President JD Vance’s quick infamous meeting with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in February was a stunning example of the administration’s self-obsession. Trump and Vance repeatedly insulted Zelensky, deemed his behavior “ungrateful,” threatened to remove aid and victimized themselves as “disrespected” by a leader whose people are at war.
Criticism and opposition are natural among leaders – they must be – but leadership also requires empathy and compromise in great quantities.
The president of the United States has repeatedly mocked global leaders who fail to praise him. To call his behavior rude is an understatement, yet professionalism shouldn’t be an issue for the individual governing one of the planet’s most powerful nations.
Pride in one’s country is not diminished by compassion for another.
Thurber suggests citizens pay close attention to the news as international relations regarding tariffs develop; Trump’s behavior may even endanger America’s access to credible intelligence.
“I am worried, in, particularly in the aftermath of the disclosures on the Signal social chat network a few weeks ago, that we’re gonna start to see American allies stop sharing national security intelligence with United States,” Thurber said. “Less so out of retaliation, though there might be some of that, but more so that they don’t trust that the United States will be able to keep their secrets, particularly with regards to their sources and methods on the ground, and that could have really damaging national security implications for the United States.”
In the eyes of the world, the Trump administration is proving itself a bully – worse yet, a foolish one.
ON THE IMAGE OF AMERICA
Trump’s election left many U.S. citizens feeling hopeless. Now the Trump administration has left America’s allies grieving alongside us, for our values and for the meaning of our nation.
Realistic or not, French politician and European Parliament member Raphaël Glucksmann’s declaration that America must return the Statue of Liberty is a powerful measurement of the horror the United States’ close allies are feeling.
America is beautiful – we are beautiful – because we care about more than ourselves, because we simultaneously honor the power of the individual and the importance of unity.
Our Lady Liberty cannot represent the policies Trump attacks the world with because freedom is unachievable without compassion. Our president’s hunger for power smothers her light.
