Trump Stood Strong in Europe

(This article first appeared on PennLIVE.com.)

President Donald Trump’s second international trip was a great success for the White House, for his America First agenda, and for the American people.

Trump delivered a historic speech in Warsaw, Poland, identifying our battle with radical Islam for what it is – a civilizational struggle between the enlightened West and the barbarism of radical Islam.

At the G-20, while left-wingers rioted, burned and pillaged in the streets of Hamburg, Germany, Trump stood alone against the 19 in his refusal to join the Paris Climate Accord and to kneel down at the altar of the ideology of "free trade."

In Poland, Trump spoke in front of the stirring Warsaw Uprising monument commemorating the Poles’ heroic fight against the oppressive, left-wing ideologies of the 20th century.

He equated radical Islam with those vile ideologies and our fight as one to defend Western civilization.

When he said the West is fighting "for family, for freedom, for country, and for God," he spoke the words of the ancient battle cry of patriots; words that for too long have failed to pass the lips of Western leaders. Trump sounded like a modern-day King Jan Sobieski.

Was it wrong for Ivanka to sit in for President Trump at the G-20?
Was it wrong for Ivanka to sit in for President Trump at the G-20?
First Daughter Ivanka Trump took heavy criticism after taking her father’s seat at the G-20 summit while he stepped out.

In the midst of thunderous applause, Trump asked the most profound question, "The fundamental question of our time is whether the West has the will to survive. Do we have the confidence in our values to defend them at any cost? Do we have enough respect for our citizens to protect our borders?

Do we have the desire and the courage to preserve our civilization in the face of those who would subvert and destroy it?" I have my doubts. But it’s hopeful at long last to hear an American president pose the correct question.

Trump’s Warsaw speech was not without its disappointments. The President finally declared America would "stand firmly behind Article 5, the mutual defense commitment."

The growing international isolation of the US under Trump was starkly apparent as the leaders of major world economies mounted a near-united opposition.

That’s the article in the now long-obsolete North Atlantic Treaty Organization that could compel Americans to send their sons to fight in wars to defend nations such as Lithuania, Albania and the Islamic state of Turkey; places where no US national security interest is at stake and no American soldier should be sent to fight and die.

In a slight to Russia, the President declared he is "committed to securing Poland’s access to alternate sources of energy."

It’s fine for Trump to facilitate the sale of American natural gas to Poland. But he should be careful about making broader "security guarantees." Such guarantees like those given by Britain and France to Poland in 1939 can lead to war.

Trump also unwisely admonished Russia for being involved in Ukraine, where it’s been for over 250 years, and for supporting the Assad regime, which it’s done since 1971. Syria is fighting to destroy America’s enemy – ISIS and radical Islam.

After his trip to Warsaw, Trump traveled to Germany for the G-20 summit. There he showed great strength in resisting the siren call from global warming alarmists for new massive government regulations and wealth transfers.

The President had previously labeled man-made global warming the hoax that it is. G-20 leaders, including our closest allies Germany and France, put tremendous pressure on Trump to sign the Paris Accord. They declared it "irreversible." German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she "deplored" Trump’s decision to stay out. Pun intended?

Donald Trump Jr. posts emails that promised him material on Clinton
Donald Trump Jr. posts emails that promised him material on Clinton
In a statement Tuesday, Trump’s eldest son said he was posting the emails "in order to be totally transparent."

While the German leader was terse and impolite in her assessment of Trump’s position, the young, new leader of France, President Emanuel Macron, got his Green passions flowing and stayed well past the end time in his meeting with Trump vainly trying to convince him to stay in the Paris Accord.

When he arrived late for his next meeting with Putin, Macron apologized and explained why. Putin laughed and said, "Well, I hope now the climate will be better. I’m sure that now you’ve discussed it, everything will be fine."

Ouch.

The young Macron, with his foolish plan, was put in his place by both Trump and Putin.

The final communique revealed the U.S. had refused to sign onto the Paris Accord. Instead Trump inserted language, which the Europeans despise, about how the U.S. "will endeavor to work closely with other countries to help them access and use fossil fuels more cleanly and efficiently."

Europe will certainly need it because the world doesn’t run on wind, solar and good intentions. By the way, Greenland just broke the record for the coldest July day ever recorded in the Northern Hemisphere and it has gained a record amount of ice this year.

Yeah, ice.

Trump held firm to his America First agenda on trade. The G-20 leaders cluck-clucked about the importance of "free trade" while imposing all kinds of protectionist trade policies at home.

Trump didn’t take the bait. He insisted upon the inclusion of language in the trade communique stressing the importance of "reciprocal and mutually advantageous trade" – meaning it had better benefit America. G-20 nations, particularly China, have gorged themselves on our deliciously rich and open consumer markets while using every trick in the Little Red Book to protect theirs.

Trump is ready to put the lid back on the cookie jar. And our G-20 friends are throwing a temper tantrum.

In his second international trip, Trump showed the world we finally have a president who will put America first.

Marc A. Scaringi, an attorney, is a PennLive Opinion contributor, whose work appears biweekly. He hosts "The Marc Scaringi Show," which airs Saturdays at 12 p.m. on WHP 580 AM in Harrisburg and online at iHeart Radio. He writes from Camp Hill, Pa.

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