Stephen Green relates a striking tale:
As President, Donald Trump’s ballsiest moment might have come as he was negotiating an end to our two-decade presence in Afghanistan. Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Tex.) told the story to Shelby Steele on a recent video podcast.
“I want to leave Afghanistan,” Trump is supposed to have said at a high-level meeting with the Taliban. “But it’s going to be a conditions-based withdrawal.” Hunt recalled Trump saying, “If you harm a hair on a single American, I’m going to kill you.”
After the translator did his bit — and Hunt indicated that the translator was shocked by Trump’s statement and hesitated before passing it along — Trump pulled a picture of the Taliban leader’s home out of his pocket, handed it to him, and then left.
Statement. Made.
Yes, that was notable – and I have no doubt that it happened exactly as Congressman Hunt described it. But Trump has always displayed that sort of brass in negotiation, and his interlocutors have always taken him seriously. They’ve had good reason to do so.
But while the above is indeed impressive, something a bit more recent has impressed me even more.
Donald Trump has known for several years that his political adversaries don’t just disagree with him; they want him dead or imprisoned for life. That’s been ever more openly displayed as time has passed. Nevertheless, he campaigned to return to the office that was stolen from him, intensifying his enemies’ animus. He’s also openly attacked them for what they’ve done, starting with their theft of the 2020 election and going straight on from there, such that they’ve had to fear for their own freedom should he defeat them. He’s never attempted to moderate his attacks on them; therefore they must know that in a regime of objective justice restored, they will truly be at hazard.
Of course, much of that could be dismissed as bluster; after all, politicians are known for that sort of behavior. But Trump has never backed down. When the opposition was foolish enough to accept his challenge to a debate, and demanded a slew of conditions all of which were slanted in their favor, Trump, sure of the solidity of the ground on which he stood, simply agreed to all of it. Political commentators far and wide were certain he’d made a terrible blunder. They predicted a disaster that would cripple Trump irrevocably.
But Trump was right and they were wrong. His June 27th “debate” with Joe Biden was a spectacular triumph. It has made him almost impossible to beat come November. Somehow, he knew that it would be that way, despite the predictions of all the major-media figures who foresaw a terrible setback for him.
Donald Trump’s confidence in himself, his positions, and his knowledge of his opponent have made him the most impressive figure in American public life. Given their apparent inability to remove Biden from the presidential ticket, I cannot see a way the Democrats can steal the White House from him a second time. It’s left me feeling very good on the eve of America’s 248th birthday.
Trump 2024.
1 comment
Trumps bravado is one of his most endearing traits. To call out the commies at their own game and then proceed to wipe the proverbial floor with his opponent is true genius. I have come to expect nothing less. Here in central Florida Trump is the only candidate. I have seen 2 Bidet signs in the 4 years we have lived here and they are now gone. Guess he was not all that eh?
I sometimes cringe at some Trump mannerisms but, I absolutely freak out thinking about how much power and authority is in the hands of a drooling old fool who cannot walk up stairs or carry on a conversation. Schmoe has gotta go! Rinse, lather and repeat Schmoe has gotta go!