Trump’s ambush of South Africa’s president shows how.....

[Oscar]

Trump’s ambush of South Africa’s president shows how low the US has fallen

[ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... ca-meeting ]

Justice Malala - May 25, 2025

QUOTE: "Instead of embarrassing Cyril Ramaphosa, the US president’s ‘gotcha’ moment illuminates the fact-free reality show that is Trump’s America"

EXCERPT: "There was a telling moment in Wednesday’s interaction when Trump revealed himself. It was a moment which reminded one that corruption, or the smell of it, now sits in the White House. Trump had just referred to a reporter as a “jerk” and an “idiot” because he had confronted him about why he was accepting the “gift” of a jet from Qatar to use as Air Force One.

“Why did a country give an airplane to the United States air force? So they could help us out, because we need an Air Force One,” Trump fumed.

Ramaphosa quipped: “I’m sorry I don’t have a plane to give you.”

Trump didn’t detect the disdain in Ramaphosa’s voice and doubled down on the corruption inherent in accepting such a gift.

“I wish you did. I would take it. If your country offered the United States air force a plane, I would take it,” Trump said.

And there was the emperor, naked: an unethical leader who worships the dollar and has no concept of how corrupt his actions look to the rest of the world. This is what Wednesday was all about: an America led by a man susceptible to lies and lacking in a moral centre.

Wednesday was not about South Africa. It was all about America today.""

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