Rothkopf: Trump Is Most 'Impotent' President In A Lifetime
You know that I like listening to Michael Wolff, who knows everything about everyone. David Rothkopf is something like a foreign policy version of Michal Wolff. (I don’t know if either of them would like the comparison, but it’s intended positively.) They both do podcasts for the Daily Beast.
Excerpts:
Immediately after Israel attacked Iran, the US said, “We knew nothing about it.” But once it appeared like it was working, Trump, not wanting to be left out, was posting that it was his plan all along.
How do Rubio and Trump work together? Rubio does what he thinks a Secretary of State should do. Trump does what he wants to do and doesn’t pay much attention to what Rubio says or how Trump’s comments may embarrass Rubio.
About Witkoff: Having a special negotiator for all things who doesn’t know anything about what he’s doing is a problem.
Trump the deal maker: In fact, Trump hasn’t made any deals and has made himself into the most impotent President in our lifetime.
A businessman as President: Of all the US presidents, only one has had no experience with government: Trump. It doesn’t matter that this is Trump’s second try at the job. Trump simply doesn’t learn anything. What it takes to be a good President includes: intellectual curiosity, willingness to listen to advisors, ability to acknowledge mistakes, etc. None of that exists in Donald Trump.
Les Mis: Trump demonstrated that he’s really into culture by going to see Les Mis. When asked whether he likes the hero or the villain better, Trump replied that it’s a complicated question. He then turned to Melania for help.
Xi Jinping has had a great six months. The Chinese like to say that Trump has been a great president—for them.
How do foreign policy experts see Trump’s accomplishments? Republican, Democrat, non-political, they are all in despair. Trump has destroyed the advantages and reputation it took 75 years to build.
Trump has had about a dozen intelligence briefings since taking office because he doesn’t like them. Tulsi Gabbert is trying to figure out how to make them look more like a Fox News show.
Tsar Nicholas II liked to play with toy soldiers while Russia collapsed. With his Washington parade, Trump is following this example—except that he’s playing with real soldiers.