The US Has Taken Sides--Against Democracy
Also: Paul Krugman and I have a video chat.
Well, President Trump decided to call out all those frauds, charlatans and grifters who had been discussing his policies for months. Yesterday he exposed just how these people had been either wilfully lying or so stupid that they did not understand what they were seeing. The problem was the people he exposed as frauds and charlatans were his own supporters who were telling us that he would negotiate a great deal for Ukraine, that he would defend freedom around the world, that he would be tough on Putin, blah, blah, blah.
In an evening press conference, Trump went full-Putin and blamed the Ukrainians for the war and made it clear that he had deliberately excluded them from the negotiations.
You can watch some of his comments here.
He came right out and said what he always believed. That Ukraine was to be blamed for being invaded by Russia, that Ukraine was at fault for continuing to fight, and that, ultimately, Ukraine was at fault for wanting to be a free and democratic society. His hatred for Zelensky is also palpable—for having the temerity not to bow down and accept dictation from the USA and Russia.
Oh and in another press conference he basically endorsed the right of conquest for Russia. If Russia has taken land by force, it is reasonable to expect that they can keep it.
Now this should have surprised no one—but sadly it has. This was actually a good thing, as it destroyed whatever fig-leaf Trump supporters had left to protect their modesty. He is now making the USA a force against democracy in Europe and the world.
This will have far reaching implications—and many states which have been hoping beyond hope (or more likely hoping beyond reason) that Trump was not exactly what he said he was, can no longer pretend that the USA is their friend or a defender of their freedom.
I will be writing a great deal about this in the coming days—both here and for The Atlantic and probably Foreign Affairs. It is the most momentous challenge to the international order since 1939—and needs to be faced clearly and coldly.
Final thing. I know some people don’t like it when I say the USA has taken sides against democracy. They prefer it when I say Trump or MAGA. However in this case, I don’t think such sensitivity is helpful. Indeed I would call it deceptively comforting. The USA elected Trump (with a clear plurality of the vote). It also gave his party a majority in the Senate and the House. These majorities have gone on to confirm his cabinet choices which include a combination of dangerous extremists and incompetents.
This is not Donald Trump—this is now the position of the US government. Not acknowledging that fact is a disservice to Americans and the rest of the world.
Discussion With Paul Krugman
Paul Krugman and I recorded a video chat about what Trump was planning on Ukraine—before Trump’s press conference yesterday. However all I can say is that I think it was clear-eyed about what was about to happen. We also strayed into US politics and economics—have a listen.
I’m really enjoying these video chats. This is now the second one Ive done, after the one with Adam Kinzinger (which you can watch here).
I will be doing more of these going forward. If anyone has any ideas on who they would like to see as part of them, let me know. I will also soon be setting up a section in my substack podcast archive where you can find these two talks and the subsequent ones.
Best of luck everyone—and keep up the good fight.