Clinton understands America’s place in the world. Trump does not.
HILLARY CLINTON this week told the American Legion that the United States has a “unique and unparalleled ability to be a force for peace and progress, a champion for freedom and opportunity,” and is therefore not just “an exceptional nation” but “the indispensable nation.” For most of the past century — indeed, for most of U.S. history — those would have been unremarkable claims, political boilerplate for a presidential candidate. This year, they make Ms. Clinton herself exceptional.
As the Democratic nominee was quick to point out, Donald Trump has repeatedly objected to the idea of America as exceptional. The term doesn’t apply, he says, when countries such as Germany are “eating our lunch”; for that matter, he said in 2013, Vladimir Putin had a point in rejecting the idea. “I can see that being very insulting to the world,” said a man who normally doesn’t shy from giving offense.
Mr. Trump’s position puts him at odds with virtually every Republican president going back to Abraham Lincoln, not to mention every prominent member of the GOP’s present foreign policy establishment. But he speaks for what seems to be a growing part of a citizenry disillusioned with foreign adventures. Pew Research Center surveys show that public support for the idea that the United States “stands above all other countries” has dropped by about a quarter since 2011 and is now a minority view.
President Obama has had his own difficulties coming to terms with American exceptionalism. Much like Mr. Trump, he observed in 2009 that the British and Greeks also think of themselves as exceptional. Pilloried by Mitt Romney, among others, for that diffidence, he eventually embraced the term and, in a speech marking the 50th anniversary of the Selma march last year, found a grounds for it. America was exceptional, he said, because of its ability to face its own demons and change for the better.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/clinton-understands-americas-place-in-the-world-trump-does-not/2016/09/03/5d0824cc-7132-11e6-8365-b19e428a975e_story.html?tid=hybrid_collaborative_1_na&utm_term=.ae55458be0e4
