So Far, Trump’s Foreign Policy Tactics Are No Different Than An Abusive Relationship | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

So Far, Trump’s Foreign Policy Tactics Are No Different Than An Abusive Relationship

We need to hold the President accountable.

13
So Far, Trump’s Foreign Policy Tactics Are No Different Than An Abusive Relationship
Michael Vadon / Flickr

In the primaries, we listened to Donald Trump constantly bully his fellow Republican candidates. During the election, we were inundated with sexual abuse allegations and verbal assaults hurled from his Twitter account. Now, a week into the Trump Presidency, there has been a flurry of egregious executive orders and constant chaos at The White House.

Our foreign relations lie in the hands of Donald Trump, a man who displays many narcissistic traits and a severe lack of understanding when asked about foreign policy. The past 2 days of news cycles have been dominated by growing conflict with countries Trump insulted throughout his campaign, especially Mexico.

Unsurprisingly to most, Trump’s blunders with international diplomacy and foreign relations thus far mirror his inappropriate actions and statements from even before the Presidential election. Trump’s “fight fire with fire” rhetoric, impulsive reactions, and unwillingness to compromise with foreign powers are eerily similar patterns displayed in abusive relationships.

Here are five abuse tactics Trump uses to manage foreign policy:

1. Punishment: Trump punishes foreign leaders who do not comply with his wants or demands.

Punishment is a staple trait of both physically and emotionally abusive relationships. All too often, abusers resort to punishment as a form of control, whether through withholding, physical violence, or berating. Trump’s newly proposed (and retracted and proposed again) 20 percent import tax on Mexican goods is a prime example of this tactic; it is a coercive measure that is nothing more than a symbolic chokehold, punishing Mexico’s Government for noncompliance. Possible policies such as the implied tax increase are anything but presidential, considering only Trump’s demands instead of The United States’ overall global relationships.

2. Shaming: Trump publicly shames foreign leaders who disagree with him.

Similarly to abusive partners and parents, Trump is hypersensitive to criticism of any kind and responds with humiliation. Shaming, personally or publically, is proven to be psychologically damaging but becomes downright dangerous in terms of international relations. Justin Trudeau, China, and “European leaders” are just a few targets in Trump’s laundry list of derogatory tweets and statements. Trump’s use of denigration in lieu of diplomacy is inadmissible.

3. Threatening: Trump instills fear by threatening the global economy.

Abusers utilize passive and aggressive threats to reinforce their control over others, and to remind the victim they are powerless. Unfortunately, Donald Trump floats threats often, from his flippant comments on nuclear power to referencing a possible invasion in Iraq.

Not to mention, The White House’s bewildering response to Mexico’s refusal to pay for a wall caused the peso to drop yesterday, and experts believe Trump’s “America First” attitude will cause detriment to the world economy as a whole. Offhanded Twitter threats and erratic behavior from President Trump will decrease the stability of an already volatile world market.

4. Gaslighting: The White House’s “Alternative facts” is just gaslighting.

Gaslighting is a mental abuse tactic in which an abuser manipulates their victim into believing the abuse is simply not occurring or imagined. Trump’s ongoing pattern to assert false claims and alternative facts even after they are unfounded by accredited sources seems like an attempt to bolster his ego at the cost of truth. Most notably, his obsessive insistence that Mexico will pay for a border, despite months of Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto’s clear-cut refusal, is classic gaslighting. Trump recklessly galvanizes his supporters with falsehoods, and in the process fueling tension between The United States and Mexico, as well as domestic citizens and refugees.

5. Manipulating: Trump is using his business to manipulate and extort Foreign Countries.

Manipulation is a broad topic, but implies the abuser is using subtle tactics to (re)establish control and place themselves in a power position. Between Trump’s business empire and new title as Mr. President, he holds a massive amount of sway in global politics that he seemingly uses to his own advantage. Trump’s Presidency poses convenient, interminable conflicts of interest no one in The White House will directly address. Need examples of Trump’s manipulative moves? Just search the new expansion of Trump Hotels, nepotism, and blatant exclusion of countries with business ties from his proposed Muslim ban.

Our country cannot accept or dismiss the ways President Trump chooses to engage with foreign leaders. In fact, our vigilance and resistance could be the only way to save the global economy.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

179352
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

6503
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

451988
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

22998
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments