Trump Is a Shining Symbol of America as a Global Bully

The United States, sadly, has earned a reputation as a bully nation that imposes its will on other nations. We tend to throw our considerable economic and military weight around and insist that other nations do as we wish, regardless of their own wishes. In many respects, Donald Trump is the perfect representative of that point of view, vis-a-vis the international community.

So, it should come as no surprise to anyone that Trump went to Belgium, shoved his way to the front of the line, and then proceeded to insult and belittle the other NATO nations represented there. None, according to Trump, have done enough, spent enough, or risked enough to suit the demands of our nation. The Ugly American has shown his colors.

Now, Trump is among some of the same people at the G7 Summit, where economic, rather than military, issues will be the topic of conversation. True to form, our overgrown child of a President has already managed to attack the German auto industry as a job-killing force in the USA. That, despite the fact that those companies build most of the cars sold in the US IN the US.

We should not be surprised at Donald Trump's behavior while in Europe. He acts as a bully in person, because he represents a nation that has acted like a bully collectively for a very long time. If we are to change our global reputation as a domineering and dismissive member of the international community, we will have to do more than change the person who represents us, although that would be a good way to start.