search
Sections List
The American Independent

Clueless Trump offers to ‘help’ Ireland's leader with pre-election visit

Trump has a record of helping candidates lose elections. That’s probably not the kind of “help” any world leader wants from him.

By Tommy Christopher - March 15, 2018
Share
Donald Trump and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar 03-15-2018
Donald Trump and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar 03-15-2018

Trump celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by hosting Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and offering to work some of the electoral magic that has resulted in a string of defeats in this country.

Trump wrapped up the Thursday morning photo op in the Oval Office by answering an Irish reporter who asked if he would visit Ireland.

“Yeah, it could happen,” Trump replied.

“Before the election?” asked the reporter.

Trump turned to Varadkar and said, “Well, maybe, maybe if that helps.”

The prime minister’s reaction was, at best, unenthusiastic.

Trump’s expression of willingness to openly meddle in another country’s election, albeit jokingly, continues a long tradition of Trump embarrassing himself on the world stage. During a trip to France last year, for example, Trump made a public and cringe-inducing comment about French first lady Brigitte Macron’s body.

In Saudi Arabia, Trump bowed and curtsied while receiving the Order of Abdulaziz from the Saudi king. Before a host of world leaders at the United Nations, Trump threatened nuclear war by way of schoolyard taunts. When he needed to duck out of the G20 conference, Trump appointed his unqualified daughter to fill his seat.

More to the point, though, Trump’s offer to “help” the Irish prime minister sounds more like a threat given Trump’s record.

Just this week, Trump “helped” Republican candidate Rick Saccone to suffer a stunning defeat in Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District, which Trump had won by 20 points in 2016. Since that humiliating loss, Republicans are privately acknowledging the imminent electoral disaster it portends.

In December, Trump has also “helped” alleged child molester Roy Moore in the Alabama special election to replace Jeff Sessions in the Senate. The month before, he “helped” fellow racist Ed Gillespie lose the gubernatorial race in Virginia. Trump warmly embraced and supported both of those candidates, and they both lost.

And of course Trump himself lost the popular vote for the White House by nearly 3 million votes.

Trump’s joking overture to a world leader shows that not only is he in denial about his own political toxicity, he’s actually deluded enough to think that he could be of “help” to a candidate in a foreign election.


TAI News
Get the latest progressive news here first.

Tai News

Newsletter

Read More
US economy has added 13 million jobs during President Joe Biden’s first term

US economy has added 13 million jobs during President Joe Biden’s first term

By Oliver Willis - June 02, 2023
McCarthy says Biden stopped him from cutting Social Security and Medicare

McCarthy says Biden stopped him from cutting Social Security and Medicare

By Emily Singer - June 01, 2023
Biden’s tentative debt limit deal is prioritizing the economy over politics

Biden’s tentative debt limit deal is prioritizing the economy over politics

By Oliver Willis - May 31, 2023
Biden releases national strategy to combat antisemitism

Biden releases national strategy to combat antisemitism

By Oliver Willis - May 26, 2023
216 Republicans vote to undo student loan relief for 43 million Americans

216 Republicans vote to undo student loan relief for 43 million Americans

By Emily Singer - May 25, 2023
Donald Trump says he was ‘very honored’ to help Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade

Donald Trump says he was ‘very honored’ to help Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade

By Josh Israel - May 11, 2023
TAI News
Latest
House Republicans tumble into disarray yet again

House Republicans tumble into disarray yet again

By Josh Israel - June 08, 2023
EPA awards $115 million to Jackson, Mississippi, to fix water crisis

EPA awards $115 million to Jackson, Mississippi, to fix water crisis

By Oliver Willis - June 08, 2023
Organizer Cecile Richards believes abortion ‘was just the first attack’

Organizer Cecile Richards believes abortion ‘was just the first attack’

By Rebekah Sager - June 08, 2023
GOP Senate candidate Bernie Moreno believes gun safety laws cannot prevent gun violence

GOP Senate candidate Bernie Moreno believes gun safety laws cannot prevent gun violence

By Josh Israel - June 07, 2023
Opinion: Virginia lawmakers must support schools in face of GOP divisiveness

Opinion: Virginia lawmakers must support schools in face of GOP divisiveness

By TAI Contributor - June 07, 2023
A new report shows that younger voters backed Democrats by historic margins in 2022

A new report shows that younger voters backed Democrats by historic margins in 2022

By Nick Vachon - June 07, 2023
Close
TAI News
Get the latest progressive news here first.

Tai News

Newsletter