In 1987, Ronald Reagan uttered the unforgettable words “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” Because the Berlin Wall symbolized the divide between communist repression and the freedom of Western democracies, this was Reagan’s lasting legacy in Europe. During President Reagan’s inspirational farewell address, he spoke enthusiastically about his administration’s foreign policy achievements and declared that America had rediscovered its commitment to world freedom.
With rain falling on Jan. 20, 2017, Donald J. Trump took the presidential oath of office. His new job description included protector of democracies and the “leader of the free world.” But in Donald’s dark inaugural speech, he promised radical changes to the way the United States government interacts with other nations.
For four years, Trump alienated our European allies and softened the GOP on Russia. A world without American leadership was no longer some vague future. Recently, when Putin moved Russian armed forces into Ukraine, former President Trump called Putin’s actions “savvy” and “pretty smart” in “taking over a country for $2 worth of sanctions.” Did The Donald miss Reagan’s “Evil Empire” speech?
For decades, Ronald Reagan was the glue that united Republicans. But will Donald convince the GOP to dump Ronnie and his vision of America’s leadership in the world?
