President Donald Trump has all the time bought himself because the smooth-talking dealmaker — the assured negotiator who might outmaneuver rivals, dominate opponents, and bend world leaders to his will with sheer pressure of persona. On the marketing campaign path, that picture was central to his enchantment. Robust discuss, and the acquainted swagger of a person who insisted he alone might “repair” what everybody else broke.
And whereas the contradictions aren’t new — a contemporary CNN montage as soon as once more strips away the attraction, exposing the much less calculated actuality beneath the bravado.
Trump is now going through renewed scrutiny after attacking Venezuela, capturing its president Nicolás Maduro and first woman Cilia Flores, then claiming the USA is “working” the nation.
The sudden escalation stands in stark distinction to his repeated marketing campaign vows to keep away from international entanglements, finish “infinite wars,” and steer the U.S. away from regime-change conflicts.
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On Monday night time’s episode of “The Supply,” CNN journalist Kaitlan Collins confronted Trump’s shifting rhetoric by airing a side-by-side video montage of his current threats alongside his previous statements rejecting U.S. involvement in international conflicts.
The distinction was easy however devastating.
As one viewer put it, “By no means trusted the con man. It’s all he ever was and he hasn’t modified one bit.”
Collins identified that not solely is it unclear what the Trump administration is definitely doing in Venezuela, however the president is now threatening different nations as effectively — together with longtime U.S. allies equivalent to Denmark and Colombia.
Trump has additionally warned Mexico, predicted Cuba is about “to fall,” and hinted at additional army motion overseas.
In a single clip from Sunday, Jan. 4 — only a day after the seize of Maduro and Flores — Trump declared, “Colombia could be very sick too, run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and promoting it to the USA. And he’s not going to be doing it very lengthy, let me let you know.”
That assertion was instantly contrasted with footage from the marketing campaign path, the place Trump insisted, “We imagine that the job of the USA army is to not wage infinite regime change wars.”
Collins then aired one other clip from the identical Sunday, displaying Trump warning, “You must do one thing with Mexico. Mexico has to get their act collectively…”
In 2016 when first working for workplace, Trump insisted, “We’ll cease racing to topple international — and also you perceive this — international regimes that we all know nothing about, that we shouldn’t be concerned with.”
For years, Trump leaned into the concept his instincts, confidence, and so-called “artwork of the deal” might succeed the place conventional diplomacy failed. However the montage reframed that persona, recasting it not as strategic negotiation, however as a sample of handy reversals that collapse when positioned facet by facet.
Many viewers weren’t stunned.
“To what finish would anybody even trouble to check with what he stated an hour in the past? If his lips are transferring, it’s a lie,” this MSN reader proclaimed.
“Trump is a traitor and enemy of the state,” wrote a viewer on Threads whereas one other added, “Unbelievable isn’t it!!!!”
Regardless of the visible proof, few imagine the montage will sway Trump’s most loyal supporters.
“Queue in MAGA’s psychological gymnastics,” one viewer mocked. “MAGA will name this AI and pretend information, get confirmed mistaken, and proceed to run on it being AI and pretend information.As a result of they’re merely ret****d,” one other predicted.
Many Individuals additionally imagine Trump’s sudden give attention to Venezuela is a strategic distraction from mounting home issues, together with slipping ballot numbers, financial considerations, and rising stress forward of the midterms.
“Anybody that’s not a part of the trump cult is aware of that Venezuela is distraction from Epstein, dangerous pole numbers, the economic system, incompetent management at each stage,” MSN reader added.
A Yahoo reader put it bluntly, “The Supreme Courtroom instructed Trump he can commit crimes whereas in workplace. So he’s committing as many crimes as he and his cronies can dream up.”
The distinction in Trump’s always altering rhetoric on involvement in international conflicts is stark.
He’s even threatening to assault Iran once more.
A reporter aboard Air Power One Sunday Jan. 4 requested him about Tehran killing protesters throughout demonstrations over the horrible financial circumstances within the nation.
“If they begin killing folks, like they’ve prior to now, I feel they’re going to get hit very exhausting by the USA,” Trump threatened.
He’s beforehand known as involving the U.S. army in regime adjustments in Iran, Libya, and Syria a “globalist catastrophe.”
Throughout the identical aircraft journey again to Washington from his Florida property the place he spent the vacations, he once more threatened to annex Greenland, a territory of the USA’ NATO ally Denmark.
“We want Greenland, from the standpoint of nationwide safety, and Denmark is just not going to have the ability to do it,” he crowed.
Collins then aired a clip of Trump saying beforehand, “We’re getting out of the nation-building enterprise and as a substitute specializing in creating stability on the planet.”
However once more, Trump now in workplace for a second time period simply stated, “The American dominance within the Western Hemisphere won’t ever be questioned once more.”
Distinction that with what he stated shortly earlier than the 2024 presidential election, “Silly international wars in international locations that you just’ve by no means heard of. This Tuesday is your probability to face up and declare that you just’re not going to take it anymore.”
