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After sweeping Super Tuesday victories, Donald Trump is looking like the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party, now preparing for a showdown for the White House with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who also gained huge wins. With the Trump movement showing unstoppable momentum, many countries are appalled by the possibility of this brash billionaire becoming the next U.S. president. In particular, his hostile foreign policy position has led to worldwide concerns about a Trump White House.
The world expects way better from a position often described as the "leader of the free world." No one better summed up the grave responsibility of this position than the 42nd President Bill Clinton, who said the U.S. should lead "by the power of our example than by the example of our power" at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. One thing for sure is that a Trump White House will be far from an example to the world.
A President Trump would further weaken American leadership by making more adversaries than partners and choosing unilateralism rather than cooperation. The Trump diplomacy, based on his outbursts on the campaign trail, would undermine long-standing relationships, including the all-weather alliance of Korea and the U.S. His remarks about Korea paying "peanuts" for the U.S. troops here and mocking Korea as a "money machine" have angered many Koreans.
There is also much concern about what Trump's rise means for the GOP, the party of Reagan and Lincoln. When the GOP race started six months ago, its first debate was held at the Reagan Presidential Library, with candidates standing in front of a plane used by the 40th U.S. President. Trump and other candidates started the debate by paying tribute to the great statesman who had inspired unity, hope, and optimism in uncertain times around the world. It is sad to see Reagan's party degenerate into the party of Trump, who is far from representing GOP history and values.
Trump has not shown that he has the kind of leadership, intelligence, vision and character for the office he is seeking. Throughout the GOP race, this man has only used the language of division, violence and hatred. U.S. voters must show that one cannot simply brag and insult his way to the White House. We urge the GOP and the U.S. voters to take on the right side of history by denying Trump the nomination.
