As polls appear to show Donald Trump edging ahead of President Joe Biden, allies of the U.S. around the world are bracing for a potential second Trump presidency.
In public, world leaders tend to withhold comment on their preferences for the next U.S. president — but in private, some are getting ready for a "revenge presidency" that could work against European interests.
That's according to columnist Kim Hjelmgaard, who spoke to a senior official from a major Western European country for his latest op-ed in USA Today.
"We now know how Trump likes to operate. He likes to surprise us. He has a transactional approach. In this regard, we won't be surprised," the official told Hjelmgaard.
"But if Trump wins it will still be a shock," the official said, adding that, "We often say American presidential elections have the fate of the world in their hands. That idea is usually overstated. This time, it really could be true because the two candidates have a very, very different approach to international affairs and working constructively with their allies."
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Hjelmgaard goes on to cite Trump's infamous actions as president: his spreading of false information; his disparaging of leaders from friendly nations; his praise of authoritarians; his referring to certain nations as "sh--hole countries" — all things that make some leaders wonder how Americans could elect Trump again, the writer reported.
Nevertheless, as Hjelmgaard points out, not all U.S. allies dislike Trump, namely Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right national security minister who's known to be a hawk when it comes to Gaza.
"If Trump was in power, the U.S. conduct would be completely different," Ben-Gvir said in regards to U.S. rhetoric when it comes to Israel's war in Gaza in the wake of the Oct. 7 terror attacks.
Another senior European official speaking to Hjelmgaard said Trump's recent comments about NATO were "very disturbing" and "counterproductive." If Trump is elected in 2024, the official said, he threatens to sully U.S.-European relations at a time when they have been on a "very good track."
Read the full op-ed over at USA Today.
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