I am no Trump lover. But I am also not blind.
On certain aspects, I can appreciate him. His directness. His focus on interests. His willingness to connect consequences to words. That appreciation is no adoration. It is observation. I look at that objectively. Without a red hat. Without aversion. And what I see is no American man who threatens Europe. What I see is a bunch of busybodies in The Hague and Brussels who concern themselves with everything except power.
Europe sat at the table and talked. There were reports.
There were agendas. There was coffee.
On the other side of the ocean, Trump stood up.
He did not look at papers. He looked at interests. Europe spoke about values and ideals and multilateralism. Trump asked who pays and who protects and who decides. It remained silent.
Whoever thinks this is about Trump does not understand it.
This is about Europe. About leaders who think that policy equates to leadership. Who think that meeting is acting. In The Hague and Brussels, there is a lot of hustle. Many words. Many plans. Little capacity.
Defense lagged behind. Industry disappeared. Energy became an ideological plaything. And meanwhile, it was hoped that America would sort it out.
Trump put his finger on that weakness. Not subtly.
Not kindly. But accurately. He said what no one here dared to say. Alliance is no charity. Security is no given.
Respect follows strength and not good intentions.
Europe was startled. Not by his tone. But by the truth in it.
And now you hear panic. Europe does not dare to get Trump riled up against it. Not because he is so dangerous. But because he can do what he says. That says everything.
The real threat is not Trump. The real threat is a governance that thinks morality replaces power.
That thinks rules enforce themselves. That thinks words are enough. Trump is no break with the world order. He is the bill. And whoever does not want to see that bill keeps pretending the dinner was free. The world has become harder. Not because of Trump. But because of our illusions. Sovereignty is no slogan. It is capacity.
And as long as The Hague and Brussels do not want to understand that, they will not lead but react.
To Trump today and to the next one tomorrow.
EUROPE IN THE MIRROR THAT TRUMP HOLDS UP
I am no Trump lover. But I am also not blind. On certain aspects, I can appreciate him. His directness. His focus on interests. His willingness to connect consequences to words. That appreciation is no adoration. It is observation. I look at that objectively. Without a red hat. Without aversion. And what I see is no American man who threatens Europe. What I see is a bunch of busybodies in The Hague and Brussels who concern themselves with everything except power.
Europe sat at the table and talked. There were reports. There were agendas. There was coffee. On the other side of the ocean, Trump stood up. He did not look at papers. He looked at interests. Europe spoke about values and ideals and multilateralism. Trump asked who pays and who protects and who decides. It remained silent.
Whoever thinks this is about Trump does not understand it. This is about Europe. About leaders who think that policy equates to leadership. Who think that meeting is acting. In The Hague and Brussels, there is a lot of hustle. Many words. Many plans. Little capacity. Defense lagged behind. Industry disappeared. Energy became an ideological plaything. And meanwhile, it was hoped that America would sort it out.
Trump put his finger on that weakness. Not subtly. Not kindly. But accurately. He said what no one here dared to say. Alliance is no charity. Security is no given. Respect follows strength and not good intentions. Europe was startled. Not by his tone. But by the truth in it.
And now you hear panic. Europe does not dare to get Trump riled up against it. Not because he is so dangerous. But because he can do what he says. That says everything.
The real threat is not Trump. The real threat is a governance that thinks morality replaces power. That thinks rules enforce themselves. That thinks words are enough. Trump is no break with the world order. He is the bill. And whoever does not want to see that bill keeps pretending the dinner was free. The world has become harder. Not because of Trump. But because of our illusions. Sovereignty is no slogan. It is capacity.
And as long as The Hague and Brussels do not want to understand that, they will not lead but react. To Trump today and to the next one tomorrow.
#Geopolitiek #MachtEnInvloed #Europa #Trump #Soevereiniteit
THANK YOU
Need translation.
Translation above☝️
Its translated in X - I just saw someone nicely posted the x thread for me since mine wasn't cooperating
Great post Shali!
At first glance I thought that was Rosie O'Donnell...
I hope it pulls up in English, like mine does. 🙈
I'm trying to copy/paste and getting issues.