Donald Trump on Russia, China, Iran, and Mexico

Originally posted August 26, 2015.

Pat Buchanan offers an updated and concise view on what Pat labels “Trumpism.”

Pat believes, “Whatever becomes of Trump the candidate, i.e., economic and foreign policy nationalism, appears ascendant.”

Mr. Buchanan cites the following Trump points on pivotal issues:

He speaks of Mexico, China, and Japan as tough rivals, not “trade partners,” smart antagonists who need to face tough American negotiators who will kick their butts.

Foreign regimes are freeloading off the U.S. defense budget and U.S. military.

Why aren’t rich Germans in the vanguard in the Ukraine crisis?

Why do South Koreans, with an economy 40 times that of the North and a population twice as large, need U.S. troops on the DMZ?

He has called Vladimir Putin a Russian patriot and nationalist with whom we can talk.

He has not joined the Republican herd that says it will cancel the Iran nuclear deal.

Trump seems on track here on all points. Complete details as to how Mr. Trump would work through each of these sticky wickets, as yet, have not been made available. It will be at this stage that Mr. Trump either continues to build on his compelling lead over rival presidential candidates or disappears from the field of play as the blowhard his opposition likes to portray.