Is Trump mentally and morally fit to be US president?
The United States’ abrupt withdrawal from the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Trans-Pacific Agreement (TPA), and Paris Climate Agreement at the beginning of Trump’s presidency can be attributed to economic concerns, but many of his recent decisions seem to be senseless and without grounds.
In June the US withdrew from United Nations’ Human Rights Council, for “its chronic bias against Israel”, according to US Ambassador Nikki Haley.
In August, Trump threatened to withdraw from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for its alleged mistreatment of the US. (The WTO had just ruled against the US in a trade dispute and China wants it to enforce $7 billion in compensation from Washington.)
In September, the US threatened to sanction the International Criminal Court if its prosecutors charge US servicemen with committing war crimes in Afghanistan.
This week, Trump announced sanctions on a unit of the Chinese Liberation Army that purchased S-400 surface-to-air missiles from Russia, a rogue state by US standards.
With his winners-and-losers attitude and bullying mentality, Trump apparently will sanction any country that prefers Russian missiles over American made Thaad or Patriot systems.
What next? If his tariff war with China loses steam, will Trump sanction every other country for doing business with China? After forcing manufacturers like Apple and Harley-Davidson back to America, will he sanction anyone who buys iPhone or Harley substitutes?
Incidentally, the New York Times just reported that deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein attempted to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump because he is unfit for office.
Yingwai Suchaovanich
