In an effort to rally campaign crowds, President Donald Trump recently declared he was a nationalist, aligning it with his vision still to be determined of how he will Make America Great Again.
The presidents interpretation of what it means to be a nationalist is that the United States will always come out on top of any deals.
So its a competitive process with little worry of how the chips may fall or that such a tactic will break international treaties, hamper efforts to quash nefarious dictators, address climate change, stamp out diseases, or fight world hunger.
Nationalism is a me-first mentality, that puts the greater good in distant second place.
Such a maniacal desire for power leads to war, not peace.
Despite this, President Trump clings to the term as if it means hes a super-charged patriot. Which it doesnt.
Patriotism puts country before self.
So despite the presidents love-at-first-sight with North Korea, its probably not in the best interests of the United States to sign any more agreements, at least until those supposed decommissioned missile bases are double-checked. That Nobel Peace Prize can wait.
And the obsession with Russias ruthless President Putin is scary. Dude, hes pulling your strings.
The same can be said for the steep tariffs slapped on China. In his determination to make China scream uncle, our soybeans lay rotting, unsold; and U.S. steel is now the most expensive in the world, pulling the rug out from U.S. automakers.
In terms of international diplomacy, President Trumps America First is damaging crucial relationships.
In an address this weekend honoring the agreement to end of World War I, French President Emmanuel Macron gave a not-so-subtle tutorial on the difference between nationalism and patriotism.
Nationalism is its betrayal, Macron said. In saying Our interests first and others dont matter, we erase what is most precious to a nation, what makes it live, what makes it great, what is most important: its moral values.
President Trump didnt appear receptive to Macrons warning that an isolationist policy can make democracies vulnerable and that old demons are waiting in the shadows for potential uprisings of the far right.
MAYBE PRESIDENT Trump knows all this, but refuses to change course.
