Donald Trump is a businessman cum politician who was elected through a controversial election in the USA in 2016. It is claimed by many experts on international relations that he has very little knowledge of US foreign policy and the rest of the world.
He is a president who cannot trust anyone. Since he became the US president, several of his advisers, aides and other personnel have either quit or been fired. This trend shows how unpredictable the situation currently is inside the Whitehouse.
Since taking office, Trump has taken many controversial decisions that affected US ties with other countries. Some of these include the relocation of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Muslim travel ban, withdrawal from climate change fund of Paris Protocol, US withdrawal from six nations nuclear agreement with Iran, withdrawal of US membership from UNESCO and UN Human Rights Council, creating trade disputes with China, Turkey, Canada and EU and lastly threatening to leave the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Right at this moment, President Trump has shut down the US government and has vowed not to reopen till the Democrat-dominated Congress fulfils his demand and approves a fund of $5.7 billion. This fund will be used to construct a wall on the USA-Mexico border that Trump had promised his supporters during his election campaign. The wall is supposed to prevent illegal immigrants from Mexico.
Initially, Trump had assured his supporters that the fund for the wall will be raised from Mexico. But after Mexico's refusal, he asked the US Congress for it. Due to a standoff with the Congress, Trump has shut down the government. On its 22nd day now, the shutdown is being called by the media as the longest in the US history. The US government employees are the worst hit as they are not receiving their salaries.
It seems that President Trump is quite serious about fulfilling his commitment. Otherwise, he will impose his veto on the upcoming budget. He is also threatening to declare emergency to implement his election pledge.
But the shutdown is becoming increasingly unpopular among the US citizens including Trump supporters. According to a recent survey, more than 70 per cent US citizens are blaming the president and the Republican Party for the shutdown. They want the government to reopen.
Amid all this, the international community is becoming very wary of the US president. Most of his controversial decisions have raised some serious questions about the foreign policy of the USA and whether the president even understands it.
Md. Zillur Rahaman
Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd,
Lalmohan Branch, Bhola.
[email protected]
