Former US President Trump suggests his successor Biden should threaten Russia with nuclear weapons. In his first public speech since the attack on Ukraine, the Republican shows what another Trump presidency would mean for the world.
Donald Trump is back in campaign mode. In a speech to Republicans in Florence, South Carolina, he spoke for less than an hour. Still, he manages to craft a chilling enough vision of what the United States might be like should he run for and win the presidency in 2024.
At the rally, the former US President conveyed the usual image of a strong USA: „But Putin isn’t the only one with nuclear weapons.“ Trump said he believed the threat of nuclear weapons would deter Russia. „We have a lot more. Tell them that, finally,“ he addressed his words to US President Joe Biden. In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Trump had previously asked Biden to threaten Russia with a nuclear strike. Frightening scenarios reminiscent of the Cold War.
In his first public speech since the beginning of the war, the Republican condemned the violence and the „brutal invasion“ of Russia and said he believed the conflict could lead to a „third world war“. But he again fails to condemn Vladimir Putin. Shortly before Russia attacked Ukraine, Trump even praised Putin.
„No one has ever been harder on Russia than me“
Rather, Trump blames Biden for the war in Ukraine. „Under Joe Biden, America is neither feared nor respected. Our country has never been treated the way it is now,“ Trump said. „Other countries lecture us and tell us what to do. And that’s why we see chaos, chaos and bloodshed all over the world.“
The US now had no one who could talk to the Russian President. „They had someone in me to talk to,“ says Trump. „No one has ever been harder on Russia than me.“ Referring to Nord Stream 2, the Republican said, „I’m the one who stopped the pipeline. I had to stop it.“ Although the gas pipeline was a thorn in Trump’s side for a long time, he did not stop it. „I’m the one he (Putin) didn’t attack during our administration,“ Trump continues. During his tenure, it was his „personality“ that kept the United States out of the war.
Trump does not skimp on self-praise in South Carolina either. He is partly responsible for the Ukrainian resistance, after all he provided military support in the country during his tenure. Of course, Trump does not mention that he had delayed this military support for a long time in order to blackmail Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into digging up dirt on Biden and his family.
expansion of power
Not only does Trump downplay the impact of climate change in his speech, he is adamant about winning the 2020 election. Even more disturbing is his preview of what another Trump administration might look like. Because once again the Republican indicates that he will run again in 2024, even if he has not yet officially confirmed the step. Trump says to thunderous applause: „In 2024 we’re going to take back this beautiful, beautiful White House. We’ll probably have to compete again.“
In the new, more volatile world created by Russia’s attack on Ukraine, Trump would not shy away from nuclear threats – making the world even more unsafe and dangerous. The ex-president also says that if he were reinstated, he would want to get rid of anyone on the executive branch who is not sufficiently loyal. „We will pass crucial reforms that can fire any executive branch worker by the President of the United States.“
So Trump is proposing a drastic expansion of the President’s powers. In times like these, these are even worse signs than they already are. His renewed presidency would be a threat to the entire world.