There’s a marked difference in maturity levels between President Trump and, well, just about any foreign leader, wouldn’t you say? Mexico’s Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray, for example:
The Mexican government expressed its solidarity Sunday with the United States following the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey and offered assistance to Texas.
Mexico offered to help Texas deal with the disaster, “as good neighbors should always do in trying times.”
On Sunday evening, Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott spoke by telephone.Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez, the Mexican consul general in Austin, said he has been in constant communication with the governor’s office to determine how Mexico can best help.
“As we have done in the past, Mexico stands with Texas in this difficult moment,” Gonzalez said.
Mexico is prepared for a Katrina-like assistance package, officials said. [Dallas News]
Meanwhile, what does President Trump do? Also via the same Dallas News article, he Tweets:
The latest offer from Mexico to help Texas comes after President Donald Trump took to Twitter Sunday, insisting it will pay for a border wall.
“With Mexico being one of the highest crime Nations in the world, we must have THE WALL,” Trump tweeted. “Mexico will pay for it through reimbursement/other.”
Along with the vast – and embarrassing – disparity in evident maturity levels, we also see the prioritization Trump is evidencing here. Top priority is his base, he’s assuring his base that he’s going to get that damn wall built, and that Mexico – not his base – will be paying for it. Somehow, Somewhen. To be charitable, he’s making promises to his base that, in all likelihood, he won’t be able to keep.
But foreign relations? That’s one of his top responsibilities as President – but he doesn’t seem to be paying attention to the simple common courtesy which keeps relations, personal and international, going without too much grinding.
He may be thinking he’s working to assure his political future and re-election, but for those who understand that it’s competency and not ideology which assures a future, this is one part of the big anchor which will clatter around behind him on the racetrack, dragging him to an ignominious failure.
