This is what passes for American "leadership" now.
Donald Trump heads to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, but one of his Cabinet secretaries is already there and she's already causing an embarrassment for the United States.
Sadly, global humiliation is already becoming a tradition for the Trump team's travels abroad.
Trump's trip to Davos has left him vulnerable to criticism from his anti-"globalist" base, but the White House pitched his appearance as a chance to "sell his accomplishments" and "remind the world that we are open for business, that we're a competitive country."
But during a Davos forum on Wednesday, Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao delivered a message that sounded a lot more like alienation than an invitation.
Members of the panel were asked if the U.S. is retreating from its role as a global leader and becoming "just another country."
When it was Chao's turn to answer, she suggested it would be best to let Trump answer that. But she offered her own arrogant take on the issue.
"Davos should be very flattered that he has chosen this as a forum, and so those that don't want to listen to him, you can they can leave!" Chao stated.
"When we talk about America's role around the globe, it's not as if America is going to withdraw," she continued, going on to say that "America has been the chump" for its role in ensuring "global peace and security."
Chao's remarks come on the heels of a massive 11-nation trade agreement that does not include the U.S., the very definition of America withdrawing. And that is just the latest example of Trump's abdication of leadership on the world stage.
America's standing has suffered greatly under Trump, who is seen as a dangerous fool by the rest of the world. When he's not embarrassing the country, he's destabilizing the rest of the world by provoking nuclear showdowns and stomping all over decades of Middle East policy. Under Trump, simply not murdering journalists has become a praiseworthy attribute for an American president.
Unfortunately for the world, they really can't get up and leave if they don't like Trump's reckless and dangerous words and actions, and neither can we. But we're only stuck with him for three more years at most.
