But then, he has a record of abusing American blacks and Africans in general, Afghans and Muslims of other nationalities. He has even questioned Barack Obama’s American citizenship, although his own lineage is German. He secured out-of-turn American citizenship for his present wife, Melania’s family, who are Slovenians. To the agony of Trump and his MAGA supporters, America remains a nation of immigrants.
Many Indians are reminded of the foul language Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger used about Indira Gandhi and Indians at the height of the Bangladesh crisis. But they were third-person references, made privately. They became public only when official records were declassified. But Trump has habitually targeted, almost daily, in public and on social media, someone or some nation.
This has heightened since he launched the Gulf war that he cannot easily exit, triggering a global crisis. He has abused the Iranians, using threats and making false claims, even distracting his own officials engaged in conducting negotiations.
His targets are numerous. The Europeans, for refusing to join his campaign. He attacked the Pope, who decried his violent ways, telling him that he is in the Vatican because of America. Daunted by this low level of discourse, the Pope clarified that he had not meant to attack Trump, because, as he put it, “it is not in my interest.” The Catholic world is angry after he portrayed himself as Jesus.
Amnesty International and other global human rights bodies have called Trump and the Israeli Prime Minister ‘predators’ who follow no rules, no international laws.
Governments are wary of dealing with him for fear of being insulted. Britain is another example of a nation being vilified for not joining the blockade of the Hormuz Strait against Iran. King Charles visited the US only to prevent further deterioration. It was the toughest since he became the king.
Mentioning all this is tiring when there are better, urgent issues confronting the world.
Will the world suffer 45 more months of Trump? Or will the mid-term elections in November work to tame him?
Mahendra Ved is a veteran Journalist and an Expert on international affairs.
