Trump's Travels.

It’s going to be interesting to see how Trump fares on his first trip abroad. The first bit’s easy, of course. As long as he keeps away from the issue of human rights, which I gather he intends to do, it’s just a matter of being polite while the mega-buck deals are being signed. Money is one area in which Trump has some expertise. Table manners, on the other hand, are a different matter entirely. If he starts licking the remnants of the gravy from his plate, or picking his nose while poring over the sheep’s eyes, the odd eyebrow might be raised in Riyadh.

And then it’s off to Israel where they will no doubt applaud every one of his words and actions enthusiastically (especially since he’s promised to make no mention of human rights.) But what of Palestine? I expect he’ll be ring-fenced by an unholy alliance of Mossad, the CIA, and the Israeli military, but will he be able to escape noticing the fact that seriously oppressed people don’t like him very much? We’ll see.

As for the Pope, well… One thing you can be sure of is that the Pope won’t be cowed by Trump’s coarse, materialistic megalomania, or even his hairstyle. And I think it just possible that he might raise the issue of human rights whether the Pres likes it or not. What I’m really curious to see is whether Donald tries to hold the pontiff’s hand, or will he just kiss his ring like everybody else? Will he even bring it home with him?

Brussels? I doubt that Donald even knows where Brussels is, but I expect the pilot will so the good burghers of Belgium will have to put up with him whether they want him there or not.

Then it’s home sweet home. Back to the country he was never actually elected to lead. Back to the mud slinging, the back stabbing and the contradictory values (I must make another post some time on why it seems to me that making America great doesn’t quite square with putting America first.) The squeals of delight and cries of ‘Daddy’s home’ will soon fill the air again, and all will be for the best in the best of all possible worlds.

Oh to be in America now that Trump is here.