Before his big foreign policy speech, Donald Trump let us know that “it won’t be the Trump Doctrine because in life you have to be flexible. You have to have flexibility. You have to change. You may say one thing, and then the following year you want to change it because circumstances are different.”
So we had the Monroe Doctrine, the Truman Doctrine, the Reagan Doctrine and the Bush Doctrine. But the Trump Doctrine is that doctrines are for losers.
On the center right, there are plenty of philosophies — realism, conservative internationalism and isolationism — to choose from. So which does Trump subscribe to? None and all, depending on the day he is speaking.
More from Marc Thiessen
These “doctrines” spoken of SHOULD be damned rare. There was no clearly stated “Reagan Doctrine” or “Bush Doctrine” anyway – apart that they intended for US policy to work in the interests of the United States – which Trump seems to advocate as well. Trump is right – you don’t lock yourself in. You approach every negotiation with the intent of getting the best deal for your country.
It sounds mostly like the media is complaining that Trump’s policy cannot be condensed into a 1-paragraph or 1-sentence soundbyte. Good.
Obama seem to lay claim to an “Obama Doctrine” but nobody has a clue what it really is, except perhaps “leading from behind”.
If they’d been listening to Obama instead of sticking their fingers in their ears, they might have some clue on what his position has been on nearly every issue that’s come up over the past 7 years.
Trump? Listening to him hasn’t clarified much of anything. I only know what his attitude is: At any given moment, it’s a reflection of the negative attitudes of the audience in front of him. He’s presently the host of a reality television program called “The Nation’s Angriest Billionaire.”
I can’t figure out how a guy who’s written a book with a title like this could be elected president. That’s not the way I view my country. I take strong exception to that characterization.
Go ahead and send him $15.74 for a copy. Baby needs new shoes. And don’t forget a hat. They’re all rated as highly as the book. People are really happy with their hats.
What does it say about the state of the nation when the 2 candidates for President are a conman and a crook?
@Pete –
It’s a temper tantrum, plain and simple. Both sides are hoping we ignore their significant shortcomings and honesty, and join them on the bandwagon. It may be what Dennis Prager said, we have arrived at a dark time as a nation.