This week has been one of the most challenging yet for the American people during the tumultuous presidency of Donald Trump. The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has taken the lives of more than 100,000 Americans. Trump signed an Executive Order aiming to punish Twitter and stifle free speech online. There is civil unrest in the streets of Minneapolis, and across the country, following the death of George Floyd at the hands of the police. And in response, Trump suggested shooting the protesters.

In the midst of these calamities, Trump announced that he would be holding a press conference in the Rose Garden of the White House. And what did he choose as his topic? China! Trump chastised China for its role in the early days of the coronavirus, despite the fact that he praised China at the time. However, he did little more in response than to place limits on their diplomats. Then he ran away without taking any questions because he was afraid he’d be asked about something important.

What Trump did do was to go after the World Health Organization, from which he terminated the United States membership. There could not be more inopportune time to take such a reckless action. The W.H.O. is currently the leading institution coordinating global response to the coronavirus, including efforts to develop treatments and vaccines. Trump’s reasons for the withdrawal were vague and unsupported accusations that “China has total control” over the organization. But that’s just another of his hyperbolic tirades based on nothing but his diseased imagination.

With Trump’s exit from the W.H.O., he has completed at least a half dozen such unilateral withdrawals by the United States under his mismanagement. It’a almost as if he is deliberately trying to destroy America’s international influence and cooperation with foreign allies and adversaries. Among the other agreements from which Trump has walked away are:

• The Paris Accords on Climate Change – to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• United Nations Arms Trade Treaty – that sets global standards for regulating transfers of conventional arms, from rifles to tanks and airplanes.
• The Iran Nuclear Agreement (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) – to restrict Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons in exchange for lifting economic sanctions against Tehran.
• The Open Skies Treaty – to assure that nations are not preparing for military action.
• The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty that limits the development of ground-based missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers

Every one of these agreements was entered into after long and detailed negotiations that established a clear benefit for the United States. Conversely, the abandonment of each of these agreements is unarguably damaging to U.S. interests, but beneficial to our foes. Which begs the question: Whose side is Trump on?

From the beginning of his term Trump has demonstrated a painful ignorance of virtually every subject that a president must be knowledgeable about. He acts impulsively, and often motivated by vengeance or personal gain. He relies on a cabinet that is populated by dunces and yes-men. That’s when he isn’t relying on shills at Fox News. So no one should be surprised that we have come to the precipice of multiple disasters under Trump’s alleged “leadership.” And no one should expect things to improve until after he, and his team of insect-brained sycophants, is gone. Hopefully we will last long enough to see that day.

How Fox News Deceives and Controls Their Flock:
Fox Nation vs. Reality: The Fox News Cult of Ignorance.
Available now at Amazon.