Donald Trump has constantly praised himself for being the one leader who knows how to get things done.
If by such self-praising claims, the U.S. president includes his dubious ability to alienate and divide millions of his compatriots, he clearly has demonstrated his ability to undermine the very stability of the United States.
Trump has achieved this dubious accomplishment in 10 short months, with even some members of his own Republican Party publicly criticizing his divisive actions and policies. Some members of Congress have publicly voiced concern regarding his stability. Others are calling for his impeachment.
Republican senators have publicly disassociated themselves from legislation he proposes, including recent efforts to nullify the affordable health-care legislation passed by president Barack Obama, which many Americans support, including even some Republican voters.
But while Trump’s questionable actions and policies might mostly be affecting American society by undermining national solidarity, his self-serving policies can also have serious repercussions on other countries, including Canada.
Thanks to Trump’s “Buy America” policies, both this country and Mexico will clearly suffer from his moves to advance American trade and economic interests. (The Trump government recently imposed draconian import duties on Canadian softwood lumber.)
On a broader scale, Trump’s actions have already undermined global efforts via the Paris Accord to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, with Trump cancelling the American commitment to reduce its own emissions.
The Trump-appointed head of the critically important Environmental Protection Agency has been systematically undermining existing pro-environment policies, even reducing funding for anti-pollution studies. These changes have cross-border environmental implications for Canada.
Trump also withdrew the U.S. from the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership, which involves a dozen countries, including Canada. Despite the U.S. withdrawal, the other countries recently signed an agreement on the TPP arrangement.
Some regard that agreement as a positive development in signalling that other countries have the collective ability to play significant roles on the international stage, especially powerhouses such as Germany, China and Japan.
However, the path taken by the U.S. in coming days will clearly centre on Donald Trump and his divisive and destabilizing policies. In the final analysis, it might fall upon the U.S. constitution and legal system to safeguard and protect the American democratic system.
Some critics say Trump’s legislative accomplishments have been extremely limited, but he actually has been relatively successful in his ability to dismantle or undermine various laws and policies of his predecessor.
And Trump has clearly maintained backing for his scarcely concealed anti-immigrant, anti-black, anti-Mexican moves. While he claims his major goal is to make America great again and provide the U.S. rust belt regions with jobs, in reality, he has been championing elements within American society who harbour unchanging anti-black, anti-foreigner sentiments, somehow blaming them for sidelining white Americans.
(According to an American academic who carried out a post-election survey, notwithstanding various reasons given for voting for Trump, one key reason was ill-concealed antipathy toward blacks and Mexicans.)
Interestingly, while Trump’s voters bought into his promise to “drain the swamp” of the Washington elite allegedly undermining the U.S., they seem oblivious to the reality that under Trump the government is now dominated by a new wealthier elite comprised of bankers, stockbrokers and business leaders.
Nevertheless, so far, Trump’s core voters remain loyal and even seemingly willing to back his warlike threats against North Korea’s equally unpredictable leader Kim Jong-un.
But some have expressed concern over the president’s foreign policy, especially his apparent willingness to work with such dubious leaders as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been carrying out massive purging and imprisonment of opponents. Trump’s failure to criticize the Israeli government’s continued expansion of housing in occupied Palestinian land is also causing increased concern.
Although there are public calls for Trump’s impeachment, such a possibility is unlikely, especially as it could have an unpredictable impact on next year’s midterm elections.
However, because of growing concern over Trump’s unpredictable and disruptive actions, especially his repeated threats against North Korea, some members of Congress are publicly calling for new legislation that would prohibit an American president from using atomic weapons against foes without prior authority from Congress.
Harry Sterling, a former diplomat, is an Ottawa-based commentator.
