I know Jews in America and Israel who support re-electing the current President based in part on his support for Israel. I can understand how an Israeli could have that opinion. Although I supported President Obama, I did not support his foreign policy in general and his relationship with Israel in particular.
While I understand Israeli support for Trump, I knew it was bad for America. Here is one of many Israeli rabbis who support Trump.
Then I read an article by a Taiwanese American justifying his plan to vote for Trump. He pointed out, correctly, that Trump has supported Taiwan more than any other recent President. And stood up to China more than any other recent President. He sounded very much like a Jew supporting Trump based on Israel. The article by Eric Chang begins:
“If you asked me to put money down on whether or not Donald Trump could point Taiwan out on a map, I would say you are out of your mind. However, if you asked me whether or not the Trump presidency has been good for Taiwan, I would be lying if I said it has not. To be clear, I am not talking about what might be better for the United States; I am strictly talking in terms of Taiwan’s geopolitics and from my personal opinion.
Growing up in the U.S. when I was younger, I never really understood why my progressive parents would sometimes vote Republican. But now, after living in Taiwan for more than 19 years, I can see the method behind the madness. The GOP has traditionally been more vocal in their support of Taiwan. And of course, a lot of that has to do with the massive arms purchases, but it is tangible, effective support nonetheless.”
As I read, I realized that the short-term benefits to Taiwan and Israel of a Trump re-election were based on the America continuing to be the richest and strongest country in the world, and on Trump keeping his word. It was a clear “Oh shit!” moment that was belied by everything that Trump has done in his life and particularly what he has done as President.
Trump’s deep concern for Israel came from his Evangelical advisors telling him how much the flocks they fleece love Israel. Trump needs Evangelical votes to be re-elected, but on November 4th, he will have no further need the religious rubes he scorns in private.
Taiwan will be useful to Trump until he trades away protection for the island nation in a deal with President Xi of China. He will sell out Taiwan and the island nation will follow Hong Kong into Chinese control and loss of independence.
Part of Trump caving in to Xi will be the real ruin of the American economy that will follow Trump’s re-election. Trump’s central failure of 2020 is his pathetic response to COVID-19. The United States is the plague nation of the world with the most infection and death in the world in absolute numbers and even worse relative to population. The debt and death we have accumulated in 2020 will leave China on top of the global economy as early as next year if we collapse suddenly.
Reading Eric Chang has made it clearer to me how important it is for Americans to vote as Americans.
Chang’s essay is, in part a response to an article a week before that began:
“A strong United States is crucial for a more secure and democratic Taiwan. Contrary to popular perception among the first generation in the Taiwanese American community, the Trump administration has weakened the United States’ economic, diplomatic, and moral standing in the world. This is detrimental to Taiwan’s long-term security and democracy. The authoritarian government of China continues to threaten military intervention, claim sovereignty over democratic Taiwan, and expand China’s military and economic power throughout the Asia Pacific region.
The November 2020 election is the Taiwanese American community’s opportunity to vote Trump out of office and support the election of former Vice President Joseph Biden and Senator Kamala Harris. The Biden-Harris administration will take actions to strengthen the U.S.’s relationships with our allies rather than continue our unilateralism.”
Trump is a vile liar who wants to be a dictator and re-election will grant him and his family the ability to plunder America and ruin the 240-year experiment in democracy that America is. Supporting Trump in or out of America means trusting the man of 20,000 lies to keep his word.
Israel and Taiwan are vastly outnumbered by foes who would destroy them. A strong and stable United States is the best chance for both countries to be safe in a dangerous world.
But for Americans of whatever background there is no choice. Every American should be a one-issue voter and that issue is “Defeat Trump.” We are currently the leading plague state in the world because of his failures and four more years will be beyond dismal. I plan to express my support for Israel and America and free people around the world by voting for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to replace the worst President in American history.
While advocates for Israel and Taiwan point to current reasons to support Trump, the long-term direction of a Trump presidency is to support dictators and betray democracies. At the time Trump betrayed the Kurds after one phone call from Turkey, Israelis expressed concern Trump could do the same to them. I said, "Will not Could." Whatever the weaknesses of Democratic foreign policy in the past, Biden and Harris are pro-democracy and believe America should support democracy around the world. That in itself is an infinite improvement over the dictator-wannabe we have now.
