By expelling Russian diplomats and making the Kremlin close its Seattle consulate, Donald Trump made the right choice and acted in line with Washington’s European allies. But this was a forced outlier, not the norm.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump did one thing that was extraordinary — in two essential ways.
Trump ordered the expulsion of dozens of Russian diplomats, forcing Moscow to close its consulate in Seattle. The move came in response to the Kremlin’s reported poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in Britain.
Why was this extraordinary? Firstly, he acted in unison with America’s traditional European allies like Germany, France, Poland and many others, who also announced expulsions of Russian diplomats on Monday to show solidarity with Britain. Secondly, by punishing Russia, Trump took a tough stance against the Kremlin and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Acting jointly with Europe is highly unusual for a president who has not only shown little interest in maintaining the trans-Atlantic alliance, but has instead continuously and openly attacked Washington’s traditional European allies, most recently by threatening to impose tariffs on them.
Highly unusual behavior
Punishing Russia is also highly unusual for a president deeply embroiled in a special counsel investigation into his campaign’s reported ties with that very country. It is also unusual because Trump just recently — and against the explicit advice of his now-ousted national security adviser — personally called Putin to congratulate him on his election victory.
What makes Monday’s move so interesting is that it goes so clearly against Trump’s own instincts and long-established behavior. Being friendly towards the Kremlin and Putin personally, whom Trump has repeatedly complimented as a great leader, has been a signature feature of his campaign and his presidency.
As a candidate he made repeated overtures for improving ties with Russia. As president he resisted Congressional efforts to slap serious sanctions on Russia; he denounced as “fake news” the conclusion of his own intelligence services that Moscow interfered during the US election. He fired high-level officials — including former FBI chief James Comey, who was in charge of the election meddling, and constantly undermines and attacks Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his investigation.
So what made Trump act now?
Some may argue that the nefarious poisoning in Britain may have prompted Trump to finally see the light and reevaluate his accommodating stance towards Russia. Unfortunately, there is little indication of that. Only last week Trump overruled his advisers to congratulate Putin on winning what was widely seen as a neither fair nor free election.
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