162. Only if Trump possessed morality and his own mind
Amid rising domestic tensions following ICE’s fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis, which sparked widespread protests, and strained relations with European allies over the potential US acquisition of Greenland, Donald Trump has given an interview to the New York Times.
Many countries described the US operation in Venezuela as a violation of international law, but Trump stated, “I don’t need international law. The only limits to my power as president are my own morality and my own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me, and I’m not looking to hurt people.”
Trump also dismissed concerns that removing Nicolás Maduro as Venezuela’s president could open the door for China to take over Taiwan or for Russia to influence Ukraine.
He stated that he doesn't believe Chinese President Xi Jinping would take control of Taiwan. He said, “That’s up to him, what he’s going to do. But I’ve told him I’d be very unhappy if he did, and I don’t think he will. I hope he doesn’t.”
Observe his confidence and arrogance when he stated, “President Xi Jinping may take action after we have a different president, but I don’t believe he’ll do it with me as president.”
Trump indicated he might let the last US-Russia strategic arms control treaty expire and did not clarify whether he would accept Vladimir Putin's offer for both sides to voluntarily sustain nuclear weapons limits after the treaty ends.
Trump remarked about the 2010 New START treaty, which is due to expire in February, saying, "If it expires, it expires. We’ll just do a better agreement.” Trump wants China should be part of a treaty replacing New Start.
The agreement restricts the US and Russia to a maximum of 1,550 warheads deployed across 700 delivery systems, including missiles, bombers, and submarines.
Arms control advocates fear the world’s two biggest nuclear powers will begin deploying strategic warheads beyond the pact’s limits after it expires.
When asked why he is not reopening bases and sending troops to Greenland under the terms of a decades-old treaty, Trump insisted the territory must be part of the US, saying, “I think that ownership gives you a thing that you can’t do with … a lease or a treaty. That’s what I feel is psychologically needed for success.”
Today, global consensus aligns with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who has sharply criticized U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump. He urges the international community to prevent the world order from collapsing into a "den of robbers," where the dishonest exploit others.
A poll found that 76% of Germans felt the United States was not a partner Germany could rely on. The survey also found that 69% of Germans were concerned about security in Europe.