The provided text discusses Donald Trump‘s past interactions and statements regarding China and Russia, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic and Russian interference in US elections.
Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
Early 2020: Trump repeatedly vouched for China and President Xi Jinping’s handling of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Praise for Transparency: He dismissed the idea of a Chinese cover-up and praised their transparency, reportedly rejecting calls to pressure China.
Ignoring History and Concerns: These comments were made despite China’s history of covering up such events and internal administration concerns about a potential cover-up. Shift in Stance: Once the outbreak took hold in the US, Trump began blaming China for it, accusing them of the very cover-up he had previously downplayed.
Regarding Russia and Vladimir Putin:
Defense of Putin: Trump has consistently defended Putin, especially regarding denials of Russian interference in the 2016 US election.
Siding wiht Putin over Intelligence: He has even sided with Putin over his own intelligence community.
Helsinki Summit (2018): At a press conference with Putin, Trump expressed doubt about Russian interference, stating he saw “no reason why” Russia would have interfered, and emphasized Putin’s strong denial.
Later Clarification and Continued Doubt: While he later claimed he misspoke, Trump continued to cast doubt on Russian interference, even as bipartisan Senate investigations supported the intelligence community’s findings.
Analysis of trump’s Approach:
Lack of Self-Reflection: Instead of questioning his own judgment after these events, Trump suggests other American presidents were the “dupes.”
Tacit Acknowledgment of Miscalculation: The author suggests Trump implicitly acknowledges his miscalculation by pointing out Putin’s tendency to say nice things but not follow through.
Focus on Words over Actions: In an anecdote about the first lady, Trump is portrayed as being too focused on what Putin says rather than on actions.
Diplomatic Norms: The text notes that while saying nice things about counterparts is normal in diplomacy, it’s usually done more with allies than adversaries. Lending credibility to someone who might not reciprocate is a risk.
* Putin’s Case: The author implies there were ample reasons to believe Putin would not reciprocate such trust.
In essence,the article criticizes Trump’s shifting stances and his tendency to defend adversaries like China and Russia,suggesting a pattern of misjudgment and a reluctance to acknowledge his own errors.
