Why Trump Has It Out for Canada
When the president is frustrated, he lashes out at friends harder than he does enemies.
TL;DR
- Donald Trump views countries as property and the world as a board game, struggling to grasp the existence of independent nations.
- When frustrated or unable to control a situation, Trump tends to lash out at friends and allies more intensely than at enemies.
- Trump's obsession with Canada has led to significant economic and political rifts with a key trading partner and ally.
- The author speculates that Trump's anger towards Canada may stem from superficial similarities, leading him to feel defied by a nation he sees as a 'cheap knockoff' of America.
- Trump's actions may be influenced by the fact that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom Trump indirectly helped elect, has shown willingness to retaliate against U.S. policies.
- Trump's attitude towards Canada is compared to Vladimir Putin's view of Ukraine, seeing it not as a state but as a territory that should be reclaimed.
- The author suggests that Trump's actions may not always make sense and that he might eventually back down, declaring victory, while leaving the consequences for others to manage.