Friedman Warns Trump’s Actions Threaten U.S. International Alliances
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, American author Thomas Friedman has published an article in The New York Times, emphasizing that during a period when the United States is engaged in a conflict in the Middle East with tens of thousands of troops deployed, the primary responsibility of any president should be to maintain domestic unity. However, Friedman argues that Donald Trump has made no effort to garner Democratic Party support or unite Americans behind the conflict. Instead, he has focused on internal political disputes and controversial projects that serve his personal interests and those of his political allies.
Friedman stated, “Nothing demoralizes American troops more than seeing the country torn apart from within.” He added that internal divisions also give enemies hope, creating better conditions for them to achieve their objectives in conflicts. A significant portion of Friedman’s article was dedicated to criticizing a proposed fund by the Trump administration, valued at approximately $1.7 billion. This fund was intended to compensate individuals whom Trump claimed were subjected to “judicial politicization” during his previous term. The project effectively served as a reward for Trump loyalists, including those associated with the events of the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. The article notes that the temporary halt of this project by a court order was a major setback for the White House.
Friedman believes that Trump’s business activities contribute to a growing perception among Americans that the president is using government institutions for his personal gain. He warned that Trump’s policies are compelling traditional U.S. allies to re-evaluate their relationships with Washington. According to Friedman, European concerns now extend beyond Russia to encompass the United States itself. The New York Times highlighted that Washington’s allies are anxiously observing Trump’s threats to annex Canada and make it the 51st state, his discussions about controlling Greenland, his imposition of tariffs on trading partners, and his proposed reduction in military and financial aid to Ukraine.
The author further reported that several European nations, including Germany, Sweden, France, Norway, the Netherlands, Finland, and the United Kingdom, have announced the deployment of limited forces to Greenland to support Denmark. Friedman described this as an unprecedented sign of declining trust in the American ally. He concluded that the “distortion of the American presidency” not only impacts the United States internally but also threatens the network of international alliances that were instrumental in winning global wars and the Cold War. He stressed that continuing this approach could jeopardize America’s global influence and the confidence of its allies, exposing future generations to escalating risks.
