Lord of the Prize: Trump's Global Tantrum

Donald Trump sent a text message to the leader of Norway that I legitimately could not believe was real. The message, first reported by PBS, read:

“Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a “right of ownership” anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT”

Let’s be clear.

This whole exchange is so utterly humiliating, the country is once again cringing and insisting, ‘I don’t know her,’ while our allies distance themselves. Trump is essentially rage-texting the Norwegian Prime Minister like he’s a dude at the frat party who rebuffed his advances.

And blowing up the entire post-war world order responsible for the longest period of uninterrupted peace and prosperity in world history over not getting the Nobel Peace Prize is a bit of an overreaction. Trying to invade and annex an allied country is a move that would make John Wick say, “that’s a lot.” And Wick killed 400-600 people over the death of his dog (understandable).

Yes, the message is real.

Norway’s leader confirmed and calmly reiterated basic facts long accepted as reality: Greenland is part of Denmark, Denmark is part of NATO, Norway supports the alliance, and also we can’t help you with the Nobel.

I have repeatedly clearly explained to Trump what is well known, namely that it is an independent Nobel Committee, and not the Norwegian government, which distributes the prize.

Ah, to have a leader capable of complete and coherent sentences. How ever does Norway survive without the weave?

Now, here’s Trump’s stated rationale for all of this:

“If we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor. Okay?”

Let’s back up for a second. Russia and China haven’t made a move to take over Greenland, which is owned by Denmark, a NATO country. Because they know how NATO works. If a foreign adversary invades, they face the full wrath of NATO. Which is the whole point of NATO.

If Trump turns around and attacks his own team, there is no more team. Annexing Greenland destroys the alliance meant to deter the thing he claims to want to deter. Is your head spinning yet? (Imagine how Norway feels.)

The greatest threat to Greenland isn’t a Russian or Chinese incursion. It’s Trump dismantling the alliance that prevents one.

Share

Hell, even China gets it. Here’s their response–

“Stop using the so-called China threat as a pretext for its own selfish gains.”

Therein lies the problem.

Trump is so susceptible to manipulation by foreign adversaries, because he can’t see beyond whatever megalomaniacal goal is right in front of his face. And that plays right into Russia and China’s hands.

What these two want, more than anything in the world, is a breakdown of NATO and the end of its economic and geopolitical hegemony. And they understand that if ever there was a useful idiot willing to help them in their task of dismantling that alliance, it’s Trump.

They merely have to appeal to his ego, wax poetic about his legacy if he’s able to accomplish where so many other presidents before him have failed, sit back, and watch the world burn as NATO goes to war with itself.

It’s already working.

China’s already taking advantage of the situation. As Trump lays waste to our international alliances, they’re stepping in to fill the void. Trump’s feud with Canada created an opportunity for them to open up their market to Chinese EVs. American EVs can hardly compete.

The EU is eyeing a similar move. When they retaliate, they won’t aim at Trump, they’ll aim at Americans’ wallets.

They’re considering bringing out the big guns. They call it “the bazooka,” an economic blunt force instrument that imposes crushing trade sanctions on the aggressor.

And you know who inspired that tactic? China. They used it against Lithuania for deepening ties with Taiwan. Trump doesn’t even need to worry about China coming for the US, when the EU is considering doing it for them.

There’s only one way to beat a bully.

It’s brute strength. Trump does not respond to strongly worded emails. And he’s certainly not interested in appeals to the rule of law.

The EU is our biggest trading partner. If they go for the economic jugular, the pain inflicted on everyday Americans at the grocery store will register at the ballot box.

So I say this from a global perspective, a democratic perspective, and a selfishly American perspective: the time for negotiation has passed. You can’t reason with an unreasonable man. Europe and our allies need to take the wheel before Trump drives us off a cliff.

“Affordability” is the watchword. If our allies fire that bazooka, the financial damage will topple Trump’s support. The only way the world stays safe is if Trump and his enablers in the GOP are out for good.