Who can forget this moment on Thursday, when Donald Trump embarrassingly genuflected to his “friend” Turkish president Tayyip Erdoğan?
Trump effusively congratulated Erdoğan for a ceasefire that is not going to happen. Another pack of lies, as the White House continues its abandonment of the Kurds.
Then, on Friday, according to a BBC report covering a news conference by Erdoğan, the Turkish leader took a huge swipe at Trump, citing his ridiculous letter read ‘round the world, and vowing repercussions for its “lack of respect.”
Trump’s letter was amateurish and a complete joke. That is without question, and it opened the door for another authoritarian leader to stand on the world stage emboldened and challenge this weakling “president” who has done so much to destroy our standing in the world.
Ahead of the Erdoğan news conference, Namik Tan, Turkey’s former ambassador to the U.S. tweeted a New Yorker cartoon mocking Trump’s letter.
As Tan’s tweet demonstrates, it’s undeniable that Trump is a laughingstock. The United States—and our allies—are paying a heavy price for the rightwing embrace of this foolish president, who has no problem ceding our foreign policy to authoritarians.