Later they kissed and made up. But before that, at that NATO summit in Brussels, President Trump let them know who’s boss.
No more rolling over…and while he was respectful to the Queen, and contrary to the habits of his predecessor, he did not bow.
He focused on Angela Merkel, since she represents them all. He schooled her for double-dealing – that pipeline to Russia that puts Germany at the mercy of Putin who can turn off the energy spigot any time he wants, and then who ya gonna call? The United States, of course, which will have to come to the rescue, as usual.
Which is why the 28 heads of the EU circle around Trump like small trembling fish around a Whale. Twice before America had to put Humpty Dumpty together again.
So Merkel makes that deal with Russia and then expects the United States to continue paying most of the tab for NATO, which exists as a deterrent against Russia.
To which Trump says – Are you nuts?
If not in so many words, and in the end, it was all patched up. It was agreed that NATO is solid and that the United States can always be counted on as a friend.
But Europe will have to start paying its fair share.
Though a particular French diplomat – perhaps horrified that Trump was using the wrong fork – was heard saying he resents being pushed around.
He said it (like Trudeau once did) after Trump left the meeting. Funny how brave they get when Trump is out of sight.
A wrap-up NATO communique was issued and it ran like this:
“We the Quislings of Europe, the weasels who bring you world wars and Holocausts and open borders, are only pretending to like Trump. We have no choice. He’s big. We’re small. He is dangerous because he keeps his word. He kept his word about Jerusalem. He likes Israel. We don’t."
“That’s why Federica Mogherini runs the EU show for us. She’s a double-dealer personified. So we’re just playing along with Trump because if he gets mad at us, we’re sunk.”
Okay, that is not the official communique. But it is what they are thinking.
Trump has them all baffled through his swashbuckling style of political and media diplomacy.
This features a sparring technique; first a knockout punch and then a helping hand.
That’s also how it worked for Theresa May. Even before he arrived, he had her set up for a fall, saying he wasn’t sure if she had the right stuff.
Adding that Boris Johnson might be the better choice, since he’s a Brexit hardliner, and she is not.
Well all that changed during the press conference. Count me in, she said, as a hawk on Brexit. I love Brexit. I kiss Brexit. I eat Brexit.
In other words, Trump did it again. He got them bending to his will. They were so used to Obama, these Europeans. Who is this guy?
Meanwhile, throughout migrant occupied London, there were protests. Thousands rallied for climate change, for “Palestine,” and for Muslims in general.
A giant balloon that poked fun at Trump was set flying.
The Muslim mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, smiling large, cued all that as a sign of his disrespect for the President of the United States.
This will be remembered.
As Trump likes to say, “We’ll see what happens.”
New York-based bestselling American novelist Jack Engelhard writes regularly for Arutz Sheva.
He is the author of the international book-to-movie bestseller “Indecent Proposal” and most recently the two inside journalism thrillers “The Bathsheba Deadline” and “News Anchor Sweetheart, Hollywood Edition.” Engelhard is the recipient of the Ben Hecht Award for Literary Excellence. Website: www.jackengelhard.com
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