By Devsagar Singh
Why is President Trump making himself a laughing stock by contradicting himself almost on a daily basis? Why are saner voices silent in the world’s most powerful country? Is the US resigned to his idiosyncrasies?
So it looks, judging by the stoic silence of America’s Opposition Democrats which received a drubbing by Trump in the recent presidential polls. Within hours of taking over, Trump sought to change geography and history both when he announced renaming of the Gulf of Mexico as Gulf of America and sought to annex Greenland from Denmark through outright purchase. He jokingly proclaimed Canada as the 51st state of the US and addressed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “Governor Trudeau” to boot.
Within days of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s return from his US visit as a state guest, Trump raised a major controversy by questioning USAID assistance to India to the tune of 21 million dollars for voter turnout in elections. He repeated his statement laced with remarks that some people in the US wanted to change the Government in India, prompting the BJP to raise alarm over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s alleged hobnobbings with the US Democrat leaders on the eve of the last parliamentary elections. And now, lo and behold, Trump says the 21 million dollars of USAID was given to Modi, stirring Opposition Congress to hit back on the BJP in an obvious tit for tat.
What is one to make out from such behavior by President Trump, arguably the most powerful executive on planet earth? From closest ally Europe to present competitor China and, of course, Russia and India— all seem to be in suspense as regards Trump’s next statemet. Trump’s shocking plan to take over Gaza Strip and create a Reviera of the Middle East by shifting Palestinian residents in Gaza to Jordan and Egypt is still sinking in leaders of most countries in the world.
Trump began by promising to fix US economy which appeared to be nectar and honey to American voters. But, as they say, the taste of the pudding is in the eating. Tariff and trade tension has begun between US and other countries, including China, a worrying scenario for American consumers.
Questions are being raised over appointments of personnel to key positions in the Trump administration. Their bona fide is becoming a suspect. Mid- term polls for American Senate is not too far away. If public sentiment continues to slide like it has begun, the Republican power is bound to ebb. Republicans have a slender majority in Senate at the moment. Many fear the Democrats may pull off a majority after the mid-term elections making things difficult for President Trump.
Much will depend on how Trump steers the ticklish Ukraine –Russia and Israeli-Hamas wars. There are upsetting signals as some European countries are rising to oppose Trump’s plan to settle the Ukraine war. NATO as pan-Atlantic alliance is weakening as a result of Trump’s outlandish foreign policy shift. Arab nations are fearful over Trump’s plan over Gaza strip.
Overall, Trump’s geopolitical moves seem to be replete with risks and uncertainties, giving rise to fears and apprehensions. American hegemony is increasingly becoming a question mark. Will Trump tilt?
Devsagar Singh is a senior journalist