The Trump impact on US policy

[Bill Moore]

The new RUSI Director, Karin von Hippel, a SME from within 'The Beltway', spoke on BBC Radio Four this week and in three minutes gives her viewpoint:https://rusi.org/multimedia/assessin...icy-priorities

Her Deputy, a British defence academic, Malcolm Chalmers, has a longer written commentary and as RUSI is close to Whitehall-Westminster thinking, it appears he is worried. For example:
Link:https://rusi.org/commentary/preparin...trumpian-world

Both excellent commentaries, and I suspect the entire world will hold its breath to see what Trump will actually do versus his bombastic rhetoric. England, perhaps more than any other country, is most concerned with Trump's future policies, especially after Brexit. I suppose it is possible he'll create a fissure in the special relationship between England and the U.S., so closer ties with France and Germany would be good hedging options for England.

Other countries are concerned also, if Trump doesn't follow through with the Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement, that will harm our relationship with many Asian countries, in fact it could kill the rebalance to the Asia-Pacific. At least for the short term, few conditions last forever. However, Clinton also backpedaled during the election and indicated she would also do away with it, so who knows if one is better than the other in that regard.

Will Trump really get closer to Russia? That is one of my bigger concerns, and if he does will it further undermine U.S. credibility around the globe? The terrorist threat is serious, but giving Russia a free hand to pursue their global interests by tossing their military might around to defend thugs is a greater threat longer term.

While the Brits have no idea what Trump will "really" do, you shouldn't feel lonely, we don't either. Let's see who he puts in key positions, and what actions he actually pursues when he gets in office before we start passing judgment.

I suspect he'll do something about illegal immigration, and if he simply tells law enforcement to enforce the current laws (there is a current freeze on in our country to do so via executive order) that should be sufficient. For health care, he needs to revamp the affordable care act with safety caveats, which he has already said he will do. For example, he said he will maintain being able to keep your children on your insurance until they're 25 y/0, and prohibit insurance companies from denying insurance for preexisting conditions. In many ways Trump is more of a democrat than a Republican when you honestly evaluate his positions. This even makes him more unpredictable.

If worse comes to worse and he ends up getting impeached for whatever in the future, at least the Vice President is level headed and respectable.