Kevin Rafferty

Opinion | R.I.P. Pax Americana under Donald Trump’s destructive rule by tweet and his ‘America first’ policy

The US president’s unpredictability is dangerous in an increasingly unstable world. Germany and Japan, running trade surpluses with the US, are not safe. And multilateralism is in crisis in Europe, though the Europeans should know better

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Why you can trust SCMP

Kevin Rafferty

Published: 1:00am, 5 Apr 2019Updated: 1:33am, 5 Apr 2019

For two years, US President Donald Trump was beleaguered by the “WITCH HUNT” and “fake news” of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into whether he or his campaign colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 election. Now, on the basis of his attorney general’s four-page summary of Mueller’s almost 400-page report and decision not to prosecute him, Trump has rebounded, with a vengeance.

Former White House adviser Steve Bannon warns that a rejuvenated Trump is set to “go full animal” on enemies. Trump is clearly warming up as he threatens to retaliate against “treasonous” opponents.

He has been condemned by the House for seeking to rip up what remains of Barack Obama’s health care programme, never mind that millions of Americans, especially those with pre-existing conditions, could be left without health insurance.

Let the rest of the world beware: Trump allowed himself and the White House to be props for Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel’s election battle, including recognising Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights in defiance of the United Nations.

His mission is to remake the world in his own image. US Vice-President Mike Pence, who had previously accused China of disregarding “the laws and norms that have kept the world safe and prosperous for more than half a century”, gave an account of the gospel of Trump at the Munich Security Conference.