The president of the United States believes he “hit a home run” on his first trip abroad as head of state.
I believe I will disagree with Donald J. Trump on that one.
āBut we have been gone for close to nine days. This will be nine days. And I think we hit a home run no matter where we are,ā Trump said in Italy as he prepared to return home — and into the political maelstrom that awaits.
Let’s review:
* He started in Saudi Arabia and delivered an acceptable speech to a room full of kings, presidentsĀ and potentates about the threat of international terrorism. It’s interesting that he would make such a speech in a country that has done next to nothing to curb its breeding of terrorists. Hey, wasn’t Osama bin Laden a Saudi native?
* Trump ventured to Israel, where was met by government officials who were steamed that he revealed classified secrets to Russian visitors earlier that had come from Israeli intelligence officials. Lord knows what Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu likely told him in private.
* Then he went to the Vatican and met with Pope Francis, who he had criticized while campaigning for the presidency because the Holy Father disagreed with some public policy statements the candidate had made.
* Trump then ventured to Brussels, where he scolded NATO allies because some of them aren’t paying enough for the defense of Europe against Russian threats and those threatsĀ presented by terrorists. The reactions of the heads of state and government who heard the lecture couldn’t have been more instructive; they couldn’t believe the president would dress them down in such a public manner.
Along the way, the president was met with concern, a bit of anger over past statements. By my way of reasoning, he didn’t do much to assuage the concerns of world leaders who are concerned about the absence of any public service experience in his background.
Home run, Mr. President? Hardly. I’d say you hit — maybe — a stand-up double.