Carlo Allegri / Reuters
Article originally published 01/08/2016: due to a technical issue this article may have resurfaced for some readers, and the original publish date may not have been visible.
The prospect of Donald Trump becoming US President is not just shocking people in the US. His utterances on foreign policy are spooking world leaders.
Advertisement
Blending mistakes, ignorance and willful grand-standing, the Republican Presidential nominee’s confused and confusing positions suggest an uncertain world could get even more uncertain if he wins in November. Here are just a handful of his baffling lines.
1
Not Knowing Russia Invaded Ukraine
A look at tomorrow's front page
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) August 1, 2016
EASTERN BLOC-HEAD
Trump clueless on 2014 Ukraine invasionhttps://t.co/QSBd9aMsxf pic.twitter.com/WSczR1RZ6W
This week, Trump argued that under him, Russian President Vladimir Putin wouldn't invade Ukraine. Even though Putin already has, seizing the country's Crimean Peninsula two years' ago.
Donald Trump: "He's not going into Ukraine. OK, just so you understand. He's not going to go into Ukraine, all right? You can mark it down. You can put it down. You can take it anywhere you want."
ABC's George Stephanopoulos: "Well, he's already there, isn't he?"
Donald Trump: "OK, well, he's there in a certain way. But I'm not there. You have Obama there."
Donald Trump: "He's not going into Ukraine. OK, just so you understand. He's not going to go into Ukraine, all right? You can mark it down. You can put it down. You can take it anywhere you want."
ABC's George Stephanopoulos: "Well, he's already there, isn't he?"
Donald Trump: "OK, well, he's there in a certain way. But I'm not there. You have Obama there."
2
Didn't Know What 'Brexit' Meant
Yui Mok/PA Wire
In an interview with Michael Wolff for The Hollywood Reporter, Trump suggested he did not know the meaning of the world “Brexit” - or Britain’s exit from the European Union.
Michael Wolff: “And Brexit? Your position?”
Donald Trump: “Huh?"
Michael Wolff: "Brexit.”
Donald Trump: "Hmm.”
When told what it meant, Trump replied: “Oh yeah, I think they should leave.”
Michael Wolff: “And Brexit? Your position?”
Donald Trump: “Huh?"
Michael Wolff: "Brexit.”
Donald Trump: "Hmm.”
When told what it meant, Trump replied: “Oh yeah, I think they should leave.”
3
Questions NATO Membership
Breaking News: Trump said he wouldn't automatically defend NATO members like the Baltic States from a Russian attack https://t.co/8mFJ7zE1pE
— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 21, 2016
The big one. The first time a would-be US President suggested defence of its major allies under the 28-state collective alliance was conditional.
If Russia attacked them, he would decide whether the US helped only after reviewing if those nations have “fulfilled their obligations to us", he told The New York Times.
He says other nations should pay their "fair share", leading to some to suggest NATO should not be a protection racket.
If Russia attacked them, he would decide whether the US helped only after reviewing if those nations have “fulfilled their obligations to us", he told The New York Times.
He says other nations should pay their "fair share", leading to some to suggest NATO should not be a protection racket.
Advertisement
4
'I Would Go Beyond Waterboarding'
Jonathan Ernst / Reuters
Trump has long embraced the idea of torture. "Don't tell me it doesn't work, torture works," he has said.
And waterboarding in particular. On ABC, he was asked by George Stephanopoulos whether he would "authorize torture".
Donald Trump: "I would absolutely authorize something beyond waterboarding. And believe me, it will be effective. If we need information, George, you have our enemy cutting heads off of Christians and plenty of others, by the hundreds, by the ..."
George Stephanopoulos: "Do we win by being more like them?"
Donald Trump: "Yes. I'm sorry. You have to do it that way. And I'm not sure everybody agrees with me. I guess a lot of people don't. We are living in a time that's as evil as any time that there has ever been. You know, when I was a young man, I studied Medieval times. That's what they did, they chopped off heads. That's what we have..."
George Stephanopoulos: "So we're going to chop off heads..."
Donald Trump: "We're going to do things beyond waterboarding perhaps, if that happens to come."
And waterboarding in particular. On ABC, he was asked by George Stephanopoulos whether he would "authorize torture".
Donald Trump: "I would absolutely authorize something beyond waterboarding. And believe me, it will be effective. If we need information, George, you have our enemy cutting heads off of Christians and plenty of others, by the hundreds, by the ..."
George Stephanopoulos: "Do we win by being more like them?"
Donald Trump: "Yes. I'm sorry. You have to do it that way. And I'm not sure everybody agrees with me. I guess a lot of people don't. We are living in a time that's as evil as any time that there has ever been. You know, when I was a young man, I studied Medieval times. That's what they did, they chopped off heads. That's what we have..."
George Stephanopoulos: "So we're going to chop off heads..."
Donald Trump: "We're going to do things beyond waterboarding perhaps, if that happens to come."
5
Welcomes 'Brexit' In Scotland. Which Voted To Remain
OLI SCARFF via Getty Images
Trump arrived at his hotel and golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland, the day after the UK voted to leave the European Union.
He faced a backlash after tweeting that people in Scotland were “going wild” - though many responded most Scots actually voted to remain inside the EU.
He faced a backlash after tweeting that people in Scotland were “going wild” - though many responded most Scots actually voted to remain inside the EU.
6
Urges Russia To Hack An American's Emails
Carlo Allegri / Reuters
Trump said he hoped Hillary Clinton’s deleted emails had fallen into the hands of Russian hackers, referring to the widely held suspicion that Russia is responsible for hacking the Democratic Party's servers.
He went further, addressing the rogue nation directly: “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.”
To be clear, he was actively hoping that American servers were hacked by another nation.
He went further, addressing the rogue nation directly: “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.”
To be clear, he was actively hoping that American servers were hacked by another nation.
Advertisement
7
Claims China Will Exploit A Trade Deal It Isn't In
Darren Hauck / Reuters
The Trans-Pacific Partnership is controversial pact to make trade easier between 12 countries. Trump's view is that it's a "horrible deal".
"It's a deal that was designed for China to come in, as they always do, through the back door and totally take advantage of everyone.
"If you look at the way China and India and almost everybody takes advantage of the United States -- China in particular, because they're so good. It's the No. 1 abuser of this country. And if you look at the way they take advantage, it's through currency manipulation. It's not even discussed in the almost 6,000-page agreement."
One problem: China isn’t a part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
"It's a deal that was designed for China to come in, as they always do, through the back door and totally take advantage of everyone.
"If you look at the way China and India and almost everybody takes advantage of the United States -- China in particular, because they're so good. It's the No. 1 abuser of this country. And if you look at the way they take advantage, it's through currency manipulation. It's not even discussed in the almost 6,000-page agreement."
One problem: China isn’t a part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
8
'There Are No Iraqis'
Andrew Harnik/AP
Trump's plan to rid the world of Isis is to carpet-bomb its oil fields in Iraq (even though most of its wealth is in Syria).
He was questioned by CNN's Anderson Cooper whether it would be "destroying the wealth of Iraq" in the process, hurting ordinary people.
Donald Trump: “No, there is no Iraq.”
Anderson Cooper: “The Iraqis might differ with you."
Donald Trump: “Excuse me. There are no Iraqis.”
He was questioned by CNN's Anderson Cooper whether it would be "destroying the wealth of Iraq" in the process, hurting ordinary people.
Donald Trump: “No, there is no Iraq.”
Anderson Cooper: “The Iraqis might differ with you."
Donald Trump: “Excuse me. There are no Iraqis.”
9
Hopes Turkey Coup Aftermath Will 'Work Out'
Carlo Allegri / Reuters
As the Turkish military forces made an attempt to overthrow the nation’s elected Government while President Recep Erdogan was out of the country, Trump appeared confused over his or America's position on the country.
"So many friends in Turkey. Great people, amazing people. We wish them well. A lot of anguish last night, but hopefully it will all work out," he responded.
"So many friends in Turkey. Great people, amazing people. We wish them well. A lot of anguish last night, but hopefully it will all work out," he responded.
Advertisement