With May's Government Teetering, Trump Gives It a Shove (NYT)

[dalton99a]

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/12/world/europe/trump-brexit-theresa-may.html

With May’s Government Teetering, Trump Gives It a Shove
By Stephen Castle and Julie Hirschfeld Davis
July 12, 2018

LONDON — President Trump put his brand of confrontational and disruptive diplomacy on full display Thursday, unsettling NATO allies with a blustering performance in Brussels and then, in a remarkable breach of protocol, publicly undercutting Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain in an interview published hours after landing in her country.

In the interview with The Sun, Mr. Trump second-guessed Mrs. May’s handling of the main issue on her plate: how Britain should cut ties to the European Union. He cast doubt on whether he was willing to negotiate a new trade deal between Britain and the United States, and praised Mrs. May’s Conservative Party rival, Boris Johnson, as a potentially great prime minister.

The interview was published as Mr. Trump and Mrs. May were wrapping up what appeared to be a chummy dinner at Blenheim Palace — earlier, they had walked inside holding hands — and a day ahead of the president’s scheduled meeting with Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle. There was no immediate response from the British government.

“Well I think the deal that she is striking is not what the people voted on,” Mr. Trump said in the interview, speaking of the approach Mrs. May is taking to Britain’s exit from the European Union, or Brexit, under which the British economy would effectively continue to be subject to many European regulations.

Speaking of Mr. Johnson, who resigned this week as foreign secretary in protest over Mrs. May’s Brexit strategy and who has long been seen as likely to challenge her for her job, Mr. Trump said: “Well I am not pitting one against the other. I’m just saying I think he would be a great prime minister. I think he’s got what it takes and I think he’s got the right attitude to be a great prime minister.”

Coming after his combative performance in Brussels with leaders of the 28 other NATO nations, the day amounted to a global disruption tour unlike anything undertaken by any other recent American president.

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[Cha]

1. " President Trump put his brand of confrontational and disruptive diplomacy on full display.."

I suppose they couldn't say he's an insane Liar and an Asshole doing putin's work?

[dalton99a]

2. +1. The contortion acts of NYT wordsmiths to maintain civility at all costs

[Caliman73]

3. It wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing if May's government fell...

As long as Labor and/or the Lib-Dems can come in and pick up seats and take over Parliament. Johnson is an asshat and has no business in any position in government, especially if Trump is backing him.

[Midnight Writer]

4. He also gave Merkel a shove. Her opponent is attacking her for being to close to USA. So Trump shows

up and insults the country as being Russian puppet state, then follows with a cordial meeting with Merkel.

Folks, believe me, this is not simply Trumpian jackassery. This is a calculated plan to dismantle the western alliance and revive the European Fascist movement.