"I would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want"

 

Trump says he would encourage Russia to attack NATO allies: I said I would not protect our NATO allies. In fact, I would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want pic.twitter.com/ak1a3Mtwzq

— Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) February 10, 2024

This is not a gaffe and it's not evidence of senility--this is a serious statement from the former president and leading GOP candidate for that office.  Trump would let Russia attack a NATO nation, like Poland or Germany or whatever. He does not think European nations have paid into some kind of mafia-like "protection" (extortion) plan. This is a thing he said on purpose and out loud where the people would hear. It's not new. 

This is not some casual misstatement, but what he actually thinks, because he said similar things before. He would love to pull the US out of NATO. He doesn't understand what allies are or why any country holding so many cards would want allies.  He can't understand why Russia's totalitarianism under Putin is bad because he can't imagine being a human rights-respecting person, or queer, or anyone who might have a reason to not stand with the majority government that wants to outlaw you and the skin you live in. For any degree of nonconformity at all. 

Trump undoubtedly says absurd and wrong things. But this was intentional. And what does that say about whoever supports him? 

Trump also was disgusting about the spouse--the deployed military spouse-- of his former UN ambassador.  Of course he was. He doesn't respect military families or the people who serve.  

This is a man who does not appreciate national security, did not protect our secrets, and shows manifest unfitness of character at every turn. He's a man who said he would terminate the Constitution, that he would be a "dictator on day one." 

This is the twice-impeached, four-times indicted one term president. He can fondle all the flags he wants--that's an act. The reality is that he's too selfish to be capable of patriotism or a sense of higher purpose. He wasn't chosen by God to lead this country--he's a sick and cynical choice of Christian Dominionist leaders who want to use him to get a foot in the door--and damn the consequences. 

He is, simply, not a person who has any business leading a free nation or supporting freedom elsewhere. And yet he is treated like a normal candidate who says things that "people disagree with" without all of this rich context. The reason why seems like a fear-paralysis.