Trump has trashed America's most important alliance. The rift with Europe could take decades to repa

[Initech]

The presidency of Donald Trump has left such a wretched stench in Europe that it's hard to see how, even in four years, Joe Biden could possibly get America's most important alliance back on track.

This week, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo canceled a final trip to meet with European and NATO leaders. While the State Department claimed the reason for his cancellation was so Pompeo could work on the Biden transition, European officials suspect that America's top diplomat realized he'd arranged a leaving party no one wanted to attend.

Throughout Trump's term, Europeans have been walking a tightrope, trying to balance outright condemnation of the President's most destructive behavior with not alienating the leader of the Western world.

Pompeo was unlikely to be received warmly on his farewell tour, even before the insurrection at the US Capitol last Wednesday. For many, Trump's incitement of rioters was the final straw.

The foreign minister of Luxembourg openly called Trump a "pyromaniac," ​while diplomats are privately saying they "blame Trump squarely for the chaos in America since the election, including the Capitol riot," as one did to CNN, reflecting the sentiments of others in the same role.

"It was clearly not going to be a congenial trip, as many European institutions and diplomats are happily turning their back on the Trump administration. It's no secret that Europe is very much looking forward to working with Biden," said Tyson Barker, a senior Europe analyst and former State Department official under Barack Obama.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/16/europe/trump-has-trashed-the-transatlantic-alliance-intl/index.html

MAGA has done more to damage America than Osama Bin Laden could have ever dreamed of!

[Mr.Bill]

1. The act of Joe Biden being sworn in will repair about 90% of that problem. n/t

[Rorey]

2. I think so too

They already know Joe Biden, and I think the good will that trump tried to ruin will be restored quickly.

[Spider Jerusalem]

4. No, it won't

the USA has elected someone like Trump once, which prior to Trump actually getting the Republican nomination seemed unthinkable. If it happened once, it can happen again. Our European allies have no reason to trust that it won't, especially since one of the USA's two major political parties seems to be fully in the grip of Trumpism.

[moonscape]

9. They will trust us and Biden on a short-term

basis but agree anything longer term will take several sane administrations should we get lucky to have that which at this point is questionable.

[BannonsLiver]

7. +1000

[Cha]

13. Precisely! They've been Waiting like

we all have.

Why would it take years when Pres Obama's VP Biden will be Pres Biden?.. they've had Experience with that.

[Bleacher Creature]

3. Electing Biden should help quite a bit and hopefully convince Europe that it was a one time error.

If we ever do something so stupid again, however, the damage will be irreversible.

[global1]

12. Not If The Senate Doesn't Convict....

They'll say Trump could run again and maybe win in 2024. He'll just reverse anything Biden does again. They can't trust us.

It's all up to the Senate to convict and make sure Trump can't hold office again.

Is that incentive enough for the Repugs to convict?

[Silent3]

5. Biden will improve the situation, but...

...all of our allies, and adversaries with whom try to find common ground with for negotiations, aren't going to fully trust us for long-term commitments until they feel reasonably sure there isn't another Trump, or worse, coming along in 4-8 years.

[elleng]

6. but perfect for putin.

[Phoenix61]

8. I think we'll be ok.

Biden is a great choice for healing the rift. If the rise of nationalism just happened here I think it would be a bigger problem, but like covid, it’s everywhere.

[Greybnk48]

11. I don't agree with this. Europe is savvy.

It may take YEARS before European leaders trust an American REPUBLICAN again, but I think Democratic leaders are good to go.