Toon & Text by John Auchter
None of what Donald Trump does should surprise anybody. His behavior is erratic, certainly, but highly predictable. He has spent a lifetime demonstrating in a very public way that acting in his own self-interest is his default mode, his plan B, his alternate route, his “upon further consideration,” and so on. Look it up — it’s right there in his books, his shows, and his copious media coverage.
And yet, how can it be so disappointing when he goes ahead and does something that you know was entirely probable? Pick your example over the past 100 days (or, indeed, over his lifespan), but what recently kicked me in the mouth was his unprompted embrace of two brutal strongmen, Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey and Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines.
After “winning” a recent referendum that will allow Erdoğan to further consolidate his dictatorial powers in Turkey, President Trump made a point of calling him to congratulate him on his victory. This while Erdoğan has been busy jailing journalists, including editorial cartoonist, Musa Kart, for doing what journalists do. If you’re interested in knowing more about Mr. Kart, go to the Cartoonist Rights Network International website: http://cartoonistsrights.org/
Duterte also has been ruthless with journalists. But he is perhaps best known for a brand of supposed law and order where he has encouraged summary execution as a preferred method of achieving justice. Heck, he’s even bragged of murdering people himself. President Trump has reached out to Duterte with kind praise and an invitation to visit at the White House.
Another common thread with these two? There are Trump Towers in Istanbul and Manila.
So… not surprising, but deeply disappointing.
John Auchter draws cartoons. Lots and lots of them. You can find them at his incredibly popular website auchtoon.com. You can also find his stuff on Michigan Public Radio’s website under Opinion.
Trump is deeply disappointing (to steal your phrase) in every way, every day.
Agreed, Judith and John. Mortifying and unbelievable.
How much farther can he go before he is stopped? Surely someone in the government can! While I realize that the executive branch is powerful, I cannot believe that our Constitution allows for the President to have total, unrestrainable rule over our country. What is happening here?
He is being stopped by our courts, but it does seem like he doesn’t understand that he is not the KING of the U.S. I bet he thinks Ivanka and Jared are next in line for the throne.
Republicans control congress and the executive branch, but they still struggle to accomplish anything notable. Regardless of what they say, its not the Democrats’ fault. Democrats are just sitting back and laughing while the Republicans dig themselves into a deeper and deeper hole.
As bad as it might sound, in a way trump is the best thing that has happened to the U.S. by really exposing what a divided and backwards thinking party the GOP is. They have shot themselves in the foot by supporting trump and crippled themselves for future elections, but be sure to show up and vote in the 2018 midterms.
Just curious John….. Please direct me to your postings where you criticized Obama for his interaction with brutal world leaders…… Or does Obama get a pass from you because….. Democrat?
You definitely suffer from Trump Acceptance Resistance Disorder. (TARD)
Please tell us more about Obama’s interactions with brutal world leaders. Did he praise them? Call them “smart cookies”? Did he invite them to the White House?