An Idiot's Tantrum Is Now U.S. Foreign Policy (w/ Bill Kristol) | The Bulwark Podcast
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The former president's demand for Greenland and subsequent tariffs on European allies are characterized as a 'childish tantrum' with severe geopolitical consequences.
- ❖These actions are seen as driving European allies, who are 'snapped' by US behavior, towards China as a more reliable trading partner.
- ❖Congress is criticized for its 'pathetically weak' response to executive overreach, failing to use its powers to block tariffs or prevent abuses.
- ❖The Department of Justice and ICE are accused of 'unapologetic abuse' for targeting political foes and using 'dystopian' tactics like accent-based detentions and facial recognition.
- ❖The hosts argue that 'abolish ICE' is a more politically viable and merited stance than 'defund the police' due to ICE's perceived institutional corruption and lack of public support.
- ❖Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger's executive orders, such as revoking state police cooperation with ICE, are presented as a model for aggressive, norm-supporting executive action.
- ❖The administration's removal of MLK Day from free national park access and lack of a presidential tribute are seen as petty and disrespectful acts.
Insights
1Trump's 'Greenland Tantrum' and European Tariffs Damage Alliances
The hosts describe the former president's demand to purchase Greenland and the subsequent imposition of 10-25% tariffs on European goods (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, UK, Netherlands, Finland) as an 'idiotic' and 'farcical' act driven by vanity and a desire to expand US territory. This policy is viewed as 'unbelievably damaging' to US alliances, pushing European nations to seek more stable trading relationships with countries like China.
The president's statement: 'We have subsidized Denmark by not charging them tariffs... Now after centuries it is time for Denmark to give back. World peace is at stake. China and Russia want Greenland... Starting on February 1st, Denmark... will be charged a 10% tariff... until such time as a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland.' The hosts note Europe 'snapped' and is considering China as a more reliable partner. The president's text to Norway's ambassador explicitly links the Greenland demand to not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.
2Congressional Inaction Enables Executive Overreach
Despite the perceived absurdity and danger of the president's foreign policy and domestic abuses, Congress is heavily criticized for its 'pathetically weak' response. The hosts argue that a small number of Republican senators could block tariffs or pass war powers resolutions to check executive power but choose not to, highlighting a systemic failure to uphold their constitutional role.
Bill Kristol states, 'Congress has some power over this tariffs... they exist. They are all... pathetically weak. But, you know, Congress could stop this.' He suggests four senators could vote with Democrats to block funding unless specific measures (like a war powers resolution for Greenland or blocking tariffs) are attached. Tim Miller notes, 'none of them are even wrapping them on the knuckles or saying that we... are passing legisl[ation].'
3DOJ and ICE Abuses Signal Authoritarian Shift
The administration's use of the Department of Justice to target political opponents (e.g., Mayor of Minneapolis, Governor of Minnesota) and ICE agents' 'dystopian' tactics, such as detaining a US citizen based on his accent and using facial recognition technology without clear legal basis, are presented as 'unapologetic abuse' of power and a concerning acceleration towards authoritarianism.
Tim Miller describes the DOJ actions as 'totally unapologetic abuse of the Department of Justice to go after political foes.' A CNN clip shows a US citizen detained by Border Patrol agents 'because of his accent.' The hosts discuss ICE agents using 'facial recognition technology to try to see... if the person... is a citizen' and the 'Robocop futuristic evil stuff that they're doing.'
4Differentiating 'Abolish ICE' from 'Defund the Police'
The hosts address feedback comparing 'abolish ICE' to 'defund the police,' arguing that 'abolish ICE' is a more defensible and politically viable position. They contend that ICE is a relatively new, 'corrupted' institution with no positive public association, unlike local police departments which have a long history, serve necessary functions, and generally maintain public support, even with calls for reform.
Bill Kristol states, 'ICE seems to be so corrupt now as an institutionist organization that it should be sort of reformed from the ground up.' He contrasts this with police departments that 'have improved quite a bit' and are 'necessary.' Tim Miller adds, 'Most people have no positive association with ICE at all or no relationship with ICE at all.'
5Aggressive Executive Action as a Counter-Model
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger's early executive actions, specifically revoking a previous order deputizing state police to work with ICE and overhauling university boards, are highlighted as an example of how a 'non-radical Democrat' can aggressively use executive authority to 'unravel' problems created by previous administrations and combat corruption within institutions.
Tim Miller details how Spanberger 'immediately sent an EO revoking Glenn Ynan's executive order that deputize state police to work with ICE' and 'did a total over overhaul of the university boards in Virginia,' forcing resignations of 'anti-dei, anti-woke ideologues.' Bill Kristol notes she 'becomes an example of what you do if you take executive authority.'
Bottom Line
The former president's 'tantrum' foreign policy, exemplified by the Greenland demand and tariffs, is actively pushing long-standing European allies into closer economic and strategic alignment with China, undermining decades of Western unity.
This shift represents a significant geopolitical realignment, weakening the US-led global order and potentially empowering authoritarian regimes by fragmenting democratic alliances.
For China, this presents an immediate opportunity to expand its economic and political influence in Europe, positioning itself as a more reliable and predictable partner compared to a volatile US administration.
Lessons
- Congress must leverage its constitutional powers, such as controlling appropriations and war powers, to actively check executive overreach and prevent arbitrary policy decisions like tariffs.
- Advocates for civil liberties should focus political pressure on institutions like ICE, which are perceived as corrupt and lack broad public support, using specific examples of abuse to build a case for reform or abolition.
- Elected officials committed to democratic norms should be prepared to use aggressive executive action, similar to Virginia Governor Spanberger, to quickly dismantle problematic policies and reconstitute corrupted institutions from previous administrations.
Notable Moments
The hosts discuss the president's official statement and text message regarding Greenland, tariffs, and the Nobel Peace Prize, highlighting its 'idiotic' and 'dangerous' nature.
These communications serve as concrete evidence of the president's motivations and the direct, negative impact of his personal grievances on foreign policy, illustrating a profound lack of diplomatic decorum and strategic thinking.
Discussion of a bipartisan congressional delegation to Denmark witnessing 'anti-Americanism' and the 'fake' bipartisanship of the delegation due to resigning or outlier Republican members.
This moment underscores the depth of international frustration with US policy and the internal weakness of the Republican party in confronting the president, revealing a performative rather than substantive opposition.
The hosts recount the story of a US citizen being detained by ICE agents based on his accent and the use of facial recognition technology.
This specific anecdote provides a visceral example of alleged authoritarian tactics and civil liberties violations by a federal agency, making the abstract concept of 'abuse of power' concrete and relatable.
The administration's executive order removing MLK Day and Juneteenth from free national park access, while adding the president's birthday, is discussed.
This petty policy change and the absence of a presidential tribute to MLK Jr. are presented as symbolic acts of disrespect towards civil rights legacies, further illustrating the administration's perceived disregard for historical and cultural norms.
Quotes
"It's vanity bullying stubbornness. He wants what he wants. He's a child, you know, he's like a rich kid inside FAO Schwarz at Christmas like demanding that he gets the most expensive toy and yelling at his parents."
"We have subsidized Denmark by not charging them tariffs or other for forms of remuneration. Now after centuries it is time for Denmark to give back. World peace is at stake. China and Russia want Greenland and there is not a thing Denmark can do about it. They currently have two dog sleds as protection, one added recently."
"I mean, it's so insane. The Trump administration issued its national security strategy... Greenland is not mentioned. It's utterly fake."
"Dear Jonas, considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped eight wars plus, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace... The world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland. Thank you."
"I mean it's just so idiotic and but also so dangerous. I always come back the that's one thing we've all learned, right? that something could be really farcical and just stupid and you know vanity and so forth and do a lot of damage."
"It's like I've told you before. This is like I don't have any I don't I can't give you this trophy."
"It's like it's either and this is either written by an 88-year-old who's losing control of his mental faculties or a seven-year-old whining that he didn't get the prize, right?"
"I mean, it is it's beyond uh humiliating. Humiliating lunacy and lunacy."
"You know what, sir? Now talking to you, seeing hearing that you have an accent, I have reason to believe that you are not born of this country."
"They're using facial recognition technology to try to see, you know, to to I assume Palanteer is is, you know, facilitating this to like look at their database to see if the the you know, the person that they're talking to, you know, it is a citizen..."
"Most people have no positive association with ICE at all or no relationship with ICE at all."
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