Trump's Wish For A Nobel Peace Prize Is Crushed By His Appeasement In Alaska Summit

Donald Trump hates ex-President Barack Obama. He hates him for his continuing popularity (which puts him far more popular than Trump in poll after poll). And he especially hates him for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Four presidents have won that honor (Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama), and it is a fervent desire of Trump's to do the same.

Trump has whined on Truth Social that he deserves the prize. In their desire to please Trump several countries' leaders have nominated him (Israel, Rwanda, Gabon, Azerbaijan, and Cambodia). And in a particularly ridiculous move, Trump cold-called Swedish Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg. He discussed tariffs, and then expressed his desire to get a Nobel Peace Prize.

Before Trump's journey to Alaska for a summit with Vladimir Putin, Trump had been insistent that he would be harsh with Putin - demanding a ceasefire with the threat severe sanctions against Russia if they refused. If he had followed through - getting a ceasefire or imposing the sanctions - that could have gone a long way toward achieving his desire for the Nobel Peace Prize. Sadly, that did not happen.

Instead, Trump was manipulated by Putin into abandoning his desire for a ceasefire - instead acceding to Russia's stance that a peace plan must be accompanied by Ukraine giving territory to Russia. It was a craven appeasement, and it likely crushed any remote hope of getting the Nobel Peace Prize.

That prestigious prize is not awarded to those who wish for it - no matter how fervent the desire. And it is not awarded to bullies who threaten tariffs. It is earned by those who make a positive impact for the good of the civilized world. It is earned by standing up to vicious dictators - not appeasing them.

Peace is not achieved through appeasement. The world learned that after the failure of the Munich Agreement. It's to his own detriment (and that of the world) that Trump doesn't learn from history.

Biden, McCain, & Schumer Respond To Trump's Appeasement

Republicans Must Now Choose - Appeasement Or Strength

(Cartoon image is by Shaun Yeo.)

I do not agree with Republicans on domestic policy. I think their economic policies have been a disaster for the United States -- favoring the rich to the detriment of all other Americans. And I'm not too crazy about the way they use military power to bully smaller nations into acquiescing to U.S. corporate powers.

But one thing they have always stood for is taking a strong stand against aggression by the Soviet Union, and then Russia. They have been strong defenders of Western democracies, and protecting those democracies (and others) against Russia. That was something I respected.

We have seen elected Republicans abandon past principles to support Donald Trump -- things like reducing the deficit or supporting free trade. Are they now going to abandon their support for our allies and strong stand against Russia?

If there was any doubt as to Trump's foreign policy, he made it very clear in the last few days. He thinks NATO is obsolete, the European Union is the "foe" of the U.S., the U.S. no longer needs our longest and strongest allies (Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, Germany, France, etc), Russia (Putin) is a friend of the U.S., and the United States is responsible for the poor relationship with Russia.

Trump is trying to upset the current world order. He wants to abandon our allies and appease our biggest enemy (Russia) -- even to the extent of allowing Russians into our investigation of Russian attacks on our democracy. Are Republican officials going to abandon their last remaining principle, and go along with Trump on this?

Trump's summit with Putin, and his appeasement of Putin at that summit, has pushed Republicans elected officials (especially in Congress) into a corner. Are they going to become appeasers of Russia, or are they going to stand up for our democracy by opposing Trump?

There's an election coming up, and the American people are going to want an answer to that question.