Donald Trump's return to the presidency has reignited global concerns about his erratic policies. As Marco Rubio steps into his role as secretary of state, leaders like Xi Jinping are closely watching how the U.S. balances its aggressive strategies with diplomacy.
Allies and opponents of the United States are preparing for Donald Trump's return to his unpredictable behavior as he gets ready to be sworn in for a second term. They are hopeful that Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), who has been nominated to become the next secretary of state, may help calm him down.
An analysis by Patrick Wintour, the Diplomatic Editor of The Guardian, suggests that foreign leaders and diplomats have been preparing for Trump's return with apprehension. Trump had been making strong pronouncements, particularly regarding tariffs, before he even took office, and they have been plotting their own "reprisals."
Trump recently told the Wall Street Journal that Chinese President Xi Jinping respects him because he knows he's f--king insane, as Wintour pointed out.
The writer for The Guardian lamented that people will no longer be scared of Trump if he does not periodically act in a truly insane manner. Many believe the president will move quickly to establish his government in an effort to shake up his opponents and demonstrate the merit of his America First policy.
Diplomats are hoping that Rubio can help with it.
"More generally, European diplomats insist they are not clutching at straws when they say the Trump administration's policies may be more nuanced than his rhetoric," the report says. "The transcript of Rubio's Senate confirmation hearing is also being cited as a sign that the US is not about to pull up the drawbridge. His evidence repeatedly referred to the US's global role and the importance of cultivating alliances, even admitting a preference to cooperate with Mexico over fighting drug cartels."
Given this, Wintour naturally wants to know if Rubio will really make a difference, The Raw Story reports.
Prior to his recall, former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull issued a warning that the newly inaugurated US administration would have a single decision maker: Donald Trump.
Wintour continued by stating that Turnbull has advised that next week the White House will issue a flurry of executive orders, many of which are hostile to US allies. The challenge, according to Turnbull, will be to resist the bullying and then show Trump that there is common ground; after all, Trump only ever asks himself, "What's in it for me?" whether it's a business or political matter.
