Sunday, April 29, 2018

Trump Threatens Other Nations Over World Cup

It seems like a ridiculous headline and, let’s face it, it is. Even by Trump standards, that one seems to hit new lows on all sorts of levels.             

Right now, the United States is involved in a joint effort with the other major North American nations – Canada and Mexico, respectively – to host the 2026 World Cup, in what has come to be known as the United Bid. Initially, the plan was for the United States to host 60 games, while Canada and Mexico would each host 10 games apiece. But this obviously was glaringly unequal and favored the United States, so the United Bid tried to make the distribution of the games more equitable.             

Trump has expressed his support for the bid, but just a couple of days ago, he took this support to a new level. Or, perhaps to be more specific, he took it to a new low, in very typical, Trump fashion.             
What Trump did was send a tweet (of course) which threatened to withdraw political support if some nations, even allied nations, fail to support the United Bid.             

For any other American president, and really, for any other world leader, this would be a shocking development. But how sad is it that with Donald Trump in the White House, this barely registered any headlines at all. In fact, this sounds almost positively diplomatic and distinguished, compared with many other headlines that Trump has made. This might be when Trump’s “shithole nations” comment comes back to bite him, and his country, in the butt. Because if the United States wants the prestige of hosting another World Cup, then it has to treat other nations with a certain minimal level of respect. It cannot simply do whatever the hell it wants, which is the Trump style and, according to his supporters, the refreshing appeal and “honesty” of the Trump approach.             

For those of us with an ounce of objectivity, it seems more like clueless and classless xenophobia and beating of one’s chest and exerting one’s dominance (which is clearly dwindling under Trump) for all of the world to see, and for all of the world to remember, and hold us accountable for in the future (and they will).             

It is staggering, just how much of a jackass Trump is!             

Really, this man – to say nothing of his legions of supporters numbering in the tens of millions – need to buy himself a clue. He has made many situations worse by his very presence, his classlessness, crassness, and cluelessness. Comments like this show that there really are no limits to his idiocy, and to the damage that such an astonishing level of idiocy might cost the United States. I have said this before, but it bears repeating: the world will not soon forget the Trump years in the White House, no matter how many excuses American apologists might make for their man. He really is that bad, yes, and serves truly as a national, and even frankly an international, disgrace.             

Does he honestly think that he can bully his way to political triumphs in the same manner that he apparently scored economic ones in bullying his way to his financial empire?             

How much more proof do people need before they admit that this man is a failure, and completely, utterly embarrassingly clueless when it comes to politics?

1 comment:

  1. He spent his entire life surrounded by salaried yes men prior to entering the political arena, which means his experience dealing with anyone not willing to kiss his ass and gratify his high-maintenance ego is, shall we euphemistically say, limited.

    Mind you, his supporters don't possess two brain cells to rub together, so they actually applaud this kind of behavior. All while supposedly being tired of "arrogant elitists", of course.

    Can you imagine if heads of state everywhere were to follow his example? "You'd better support our bid to host the World Cup/World's Fair/Olympics/Enter name of other major global event here, or else." Or even if the mayor of a large American city were to "promote" a bid to host the Super Bowl by openly threatening anyone who doesn't support that bid? I think it's safe to say that city wouldn't host the big game any time soon.

    Sadly, the fact that Trump is, to quote The Onion, such a "festering pile of shit" may very well end up derailing this bid, which would otherwise have had an excellent chance to succeed.

    On a lighter note, if it ever does happen, I'd love to see Canada finally take part in the World Cup for the first time since 1986. Maybe the next time Trump is tempted to talk about the World Cup, he'll take a trip to Mar-a-Fucking-Lago and revive his feud with Rosie O'Donnell instead...

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