“For decades, our country has been looted, pillaged, and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike. American steelworkers, auto workers, farmers, and skilled craftsmen – we have a lot of them here with us today – they really suffered gravely. They watched in anguish as foreign leaders have stolen our jobs, foreign cheaters have ransacked our factories, and foreign scavengers have torn apart our once beautiful American dream.”
Most of these claims are exaggerated or made up. It’s more of his dangerous rhetoric justifying his dangerous policies and behavior.
Trump is bullying the rest of the world while ignoring that sooner or later it will no longer be tolerated. Far from making America great, he is demeaning our Country and our democracy.
If Trump or any American believes the United States can be great by being the stand alone bully of the world, doesn’t need other nations, and should ignore the needs of poor nations, they will learn otherwise.
How the world views the United States
BRUSSELS/FLORENCE – In a matter of months, both the international role and global standing of the United States have undergone a profound transformation. Since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, the country once described by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright as the “indispensable nation” upholding the rules-based multilateral order has rapidly mutated into an extractive superpower. Rather than protecting the stability and integrity of the global system, US foreign policy now appears to be geared toward extracting resources from adversaries and allies alike through the use – and abuse – of the political, economic, diplomatic, and military tools at the Trump administration’s disposal.
The closure of USAID is perhaps the clearest demonstration yet of the Trump administration’s priorities. It was neither random nor the result of a poorly designed algorithm applied by Elon Musk’s misnamed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). It was a deliberate and revealing political decision.
An extractive superpower, after all, does not “waste” resources helping other countries simply to win goodwill. Viewing development aid, poverty reduction, and humanitarian aid as irrelevant to its “America First” agenda, the Trump administration has cut funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and research in Africa, slashed support for vaccine delivery in the Global South, and effectively closed the door to asylum seekers and immigrants from poorer countries.
Source: Project-Syndicate
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
“And you believe all of that is true?” Haven’t seen even one article that says any of the above is false. Have you? Instead, all I see are articles why such “soft diplomacy” should be sustained.
Please, post the articles that confirm the White House and Senator Joni Ernst (my sources, there are more who confirmed this spending) lied about the above.
As they say, when you find yourself in a deep hole, the first step is to stop digging.
Obviously, the idiots who approved the above, while we are running $2 Trillion a year in annual deficits, they must go, and those programs must stop.
Again, let’s see how Rubio addresses this opportunity. If not Rubio, the current Secretary of State, to decide on “soft diplomacy”, who would you select to lead a reform effort?
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Al Lindquist
per usual Jack the facts are revealing–I share your your feelings–the loons on the left have created the current president–let’s see what happens–thanks again!
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“Poorly designed”?
Just 6 months ago, we started learning how our tax dollars were spent by USAID – or, actually worse, how we are going into debt to fundL
Take your pick. Tell me how any of these, and the hundreds of other items at USAID further American defense, international relations, etc.
You can say those are small potatoes, small dollars, but I say they are indicative of folks who spend your money in pursuit of their own priorities, not America’s.
Like the DOMESTIC and FOREIGN press, I TOO think Trump is an idiot and an ass. I TOO favor taking away his microphone AND his phone. He would be much more effective at accomplishing whatever his priorities are. And there are other R’s as well who should shut up. It is a three ring circus.
But, is there anyone from the far left of the loyal opposition who is any better – Bernie, Pocahontas, AOC, Momdani, even Spartacus? That group is also part of the circus, but only a side show.
But, because Trump is an idiot and an ass is no reason for the USAID status quo.
Compare the above with the decision by NATO to increase defense spending for each country from 2% to 5% – perhaps many in the FOREIGN press are unhappy because of the likely reduction in domestic spending to fund a more appropriate part of their own national defense.
Rubio is now in charge, so USAID is correctly part of the State Department, let’s see what he does.
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And you believe all that is true? Much of the aid is through third parties.
Even if it was, you fix the problem, you don’t harm those in need and in the process turn people against the US and looking elsewhere.
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