'Self-sabotage': Ex-Bush speechwriter rips Trump for burning America’s bridges

01 March

Donald Trump speaks as he meets with House Republicans on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 13, 2024.

After U.S. President Donald Trump angrily berated visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a Friday, February 28 meeting in the White House Oval Office, many Democrats responded with scathing criticism of Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

But some criticism came from the right as well.

In an article published by The Atlantic after the meeting, David Frum — a journalist, Never Trump conservative, and ex- speechwriter for former President George W. Bush — cites Trump's tirade as a prime example of his disdain for U.S. allies.

"False friendliness in public by Trump and Vance, followed by behind-the-scenes treachery, would have been much more dangerous to the Ukrainian cause," Frum writes. "Instead, Trump and Vance have revealed to Americans and to America's allies their alignment with Russia, and their animosity toward Ukraine in general and its president in particular. The truth is ugly, but it's necessary to face it."

Frum continues, "Today's meeting gave the lie to any claim that this administration's policy is driven by any strategic effort to advance the interests of the United States, however misguided. Trump and Vance displayed, in the Oval Office, a highly personal hatred. There was no effort here to make a case for American interests."

Trump and Vance, Frum laments, "showed" that "the national-security system of the West is led by two men who cannot be trusted to defend America's allies — and who deeply sympathize with the world's most aggressive dictator."

The "dictator" Frum is referring to is Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We're witnessing the self-sabotage of the United States," Frum warns. "'America First' always meant America alone — a predatory America whose role in the world is no longer based on democratic belief. America voted, at the United Nations earlier this week, against Ukraine, siding with Russia and China against almost all of its fellow democracies."

Frum adds, "Is this who Americans want to be? For this is what America is being turned into".

David Frum's full article for The Atlantic is available at this link (subscription required).

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