Desperate times via Trump

An America that looks inward instead of outward is a security threat not only to the US but also all nations of the world battling the global scourges of extremism. Isolating the most powerful country in the world further from Muslim communities by imposing a “Muslim registry” can only serve to deepen hostility and, therefore, generate further risks. Now is not the time for America to be burning bridges. Now is the time for it to build on the momentum created by Barack Obama’s strategy of engagement instead of isolation.

Trump stridently believes Obama’s policies did not work, yet he did not sit in the Oval Office for the last eight years nor did he oversee operations such as the one that took out Osama bin Laden.

But attacking minorities will also serve to weaken the United State’s standing in the world.

Sadly, Trump has not yet demonstrated that he will live up to his promise to rule for all of America.

His Cabinet picks thus far are alarming. These include controversial far-right strategist Steve Bannon – who spews what the New York Times has called “toxic ideology” – and Jeff Sessions, who was once accused of a racial slur against a black public official and then lied to the US Senate about it, according to the latest headlines. Session is an ironic replacement for Loretta Lynch, only the second black US Attorney General. The alarm is such that over the weekend, the cast of a successful Broadway musical, Hamilton, felt compelled to issue a strong message.

“We, sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir,” said actor Brandon Victor Dixon.

“But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us, all of us. … We truly thank you for sharing this show — this wonderful American story told by a diverse group of men, women, of different colours, creeds, and orientations.” An America where human rights progress is weakened by a racist, xenophobic, misogynistic administration will have a dramatically weakened moral standing and will not be able to effectively lobby for the upholding of universal rights and freedoms in neighbouring countries and in countries worldwide.

This will embolden leaders around the world intent on not recognising those rights, placing more pressure on agencies like the United Nations.

It is hoped the Trump administration does not bury its head in the sand when it comes to the realities of globalisation as well, including free trade. There is already some anxiety over Trump’s perceived alignment with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

Obama has signalled that he intends to break with longstanding tradition of former US Presidents remaining silent after leaving office in order to address issues that may arise under Trump, in another indication of what is at stake.

The planet now has new leadership in the US and UK. Anxious eyes now turn to France and Germany.

These are desperate times for not only the US but the world.