It was a massive act of poor judgment for Trump to retweet the fake videos of the far right group Britain First. First and foremost this organisation is one of which no country in its right mind could be proud. So much has been said of it that this blog has nothing more to add. But most of all because this organisation is British, not American, and this kind of comment is fine if the President wants to encourage hate and division in his own country, but bang out of order by every diplomatic rule in the book, for him to encourage it in ours. There is universal outrage and condemnation all across the country and from all political parties.
Trump is supposed to be Britain’s closest ally. Yet his vanity is so pricked by May’s restrained criticism of him for his blunder that he compounds it with an impertinent follow up Tweet offering her gratuitous advice of how to lead her country. May has again repeated her criticism, whilst reminding everyone that there is more to America than Trump. This is the problem.
After a refreshingly different beginning his presidency is turning out to be plain awful. Most Americans agree. His approval ratings are lower than ever. This is not because of his tweets, although they do not help. It is because he looks like a windbag and self publicist in love with himself who cannot deliver. Time will tell us whether that harsh assessment is right or not. Time, with this type of person, never fails to deliver its verdict.
We watch and wait.