My Take | A ‘toxic masculinity’ explanation of Donald Trump’s foreign policy
In his relations with other nations, the US president exhibits the same pattern of abuse of power as his alleged treatment of women
In the past decade, more than two dozen women have publicly alleged sexual harassment or assault by Donald Trump. It dawns on me that there are strong similarities in the way he now treats other nations.
One thing that seems to puzzle many people is why he is directing his tariffs and sanctions – and constant threats and insults – against allies and adversaries alike. But why? There is no point trying to figure out an underlying ideology or philosophy to, say, distinguish between democracy and autocracy, or friends and foes. For Trump, power is to be used, and abused, as he sees fit.
The following memorable quote, dating back to 1995, is what led me to this conclusion. It was leaked to the press during his first run for the presidency in 2016.
“You know I’m automatically attracted to beautiful [women] – I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star they let you do it. You can do anything,” he said.
Now serving as US president for a second time, he is much more adept at wielding power, and many of the constraints put on him have been lifted. America, the nation, is “the star” and it “can do anything”.
He seems to apply old-fashioned gender aesthetics to women and nations alike – the beautiful and the ugly. His political libido, so to speak, has been unbounded.