Trump’s Attacks On Our Allies Make Us Less Safe, Diminish U.S. Leadership

By bashing the G20 members and the NATO alliance, Donald Trump has diminished the credibility and endangered the national security of the United States. A new Pew poll shows Trump’s unhinged behavior has “alarmed citizens of the nation’s closest allies and others worldwide, diminishing the standing of the United States in their eyes.” International opinion of the United States has tumbled 15% since Donald Trumpbecame president.

America’s national security depends on the strength of our relationships with key allies. Will they continue to offer strong support to a president who undermines their roles in the international community and instead hurls insults and threats?

 

Trump has alienated many of the G20 member countries:

 

Australia…

Washington PostTrump said the refugee agreement with Australia was “the worst deal ever” and accused Australia Of trying to export the “next Boston bombers.”

Associated Press“Trump’s clash with Australia strains alliance”

 

Brazil…

Pew Research CenterBrazilians’ favorability of the United States fell 23% from the end of the Obama Presidency to the beginning of the Trump Presidency.

 

Canada…                                                      

Donald TrumpCanada “is heading in a different direction than you might love or I might love, but we’ll see what happens.”

 

China…

Donald Trump: “We Can’t Continue To Allow China To Rape Our Country.” [Fort Wayne Campaign Rally 5/1/16]

Donald Trump: “China is not our friend. They are our enemy.” [On the Record, Fox News, 8/17/11]

 

France…

Donald Trump: “France has to be the worst partner that this country has ever had.” They have “been a very disloyal partner to the United States and virtually anybody else they deal with.” [Fox News Sunday, Fox News, 10/31/99]

 

Germany…

Donald Trump: “The Germans are evil, very evil…Look at the millions of cars they sell in the US, and we’ll stop that.”

 

Japan…

Donald Trump: “And now they do studies and people say, oh, it's — do I shake hands? Yes. I'll shake hands. I shake hands with people. But it's not something I like — look, I'm not a huge fan of Japan, but I love their custom. How are you, lots of luck.”  [Larry King Live, CNN, 5/17/05]

Donald Trump: “The Japanese cajoleus [sic], they bow to us, they tell us how great we are and then they pick our pockets.” [Playboy, 3/1/90]

Associated Press: Donald Trump said “The Japanese are ‘not allies’ of the United States” [Associated Press, 11/13/89]

 

Mexico…

Donald Trump: “When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're not sending you. They're not sending you. They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

Donald Trump: “In fact, that could be a Mexican plane up there, they are getting ready to attack. That is the way it is folks.” [TrumpCampaign Town Hall, Manchester NH, 7/1/16]

 

Saudi Arabia…

Donald Trump: “Saudi Arabia wouldn't exist for 24 hours if we ever left, if we weren't protecting them.” [O’Reilly Factor, Fox News, 9/21/05]

Donald Trump: “You think they're our friends? They're not our friends.” [Good Morning America, ABC, 4/19/11]

 

South Korea…

Maggie Haberman: “Would you be willing to withdraw U.S. forces from places like Japan and South Korea if they don’t increase their contribution significantly?” Donald Trump: “Yes, I would. I would not do so happily, but I would be willing to do it.”

 

United Kingdom…

BBC: “Trump Puts Strain On Special Relationship” with the United Kingdom

 

Turkey…

Trump bashed Turkey…

Donald Trump: “Turkey looks like they’re on the side of ISIS, more or less based on the oil.”

But praised the country’s turn towards violent authoritarianism.

Donald Trump: “I do give great credit to [Recep Tayyip Erdoğan] for turning it around,” by stopping coup, silencing media outlets, and taking unchecked powers.

 

The NATO alliance…

Donald Trump: “I think NATO may be obsolete. NATO was set up a long time ago, many, many years ago… I think you really have to really examine NATO. And it doesn’t really help us.”

Donald Trump: “‘What happens if [a NATO ally], take a smaller one that no one in this room has ever heard of, gets attacked by Russia?’ Are you saying you're not going to protect them? I said, ‘Well, let me ask you. Have they paid? Have they paid? Have they paid?’” [Trump Campaign Rally, Jacksonville FL, 8/3/16]