This interview with former Dutch ambassador to US Henne Schuwer, published in Dutch newspaper @nrc , paints absolutely disastrous picture of WH and way (allied) countries deal with it. Hope they translate it. #thread nrc.nl/nieuws/2019/10…
1. To preface it, ambassador comes across as center-right, praising Dutch conservative Prime Minister Rutte repeatedly. Like many in Dutch foreign policy elite, he seems "Atlanticist", (very) pro-NATO and pro-US.
2. Schuwer has recently retired from the diplomatic service and can therefore speak freely. That said, he still seems measured and without any personal gripe. More astonished than disappointed or resnetful.
3. He says that since Trump occupies White Hourse, Washington has been "absolute mess".
4. He also says that several European ambassadors were "scared" by Trump's aggressively populist inaugural speech (which is, indeed, a prime example of populism). German ambassador was reminded of 1930s.
5. Given his attacks on political institutions, Schuwer says that Trump "is destroying the foundations of our society".
6. Schuwer: "This man, who presents himself as the man of the people, says, 'we can ignore those representatives [in Congress], My election is more important than yours'."
7. After praising Trump for raising contributions to NATO and reforming US tax system (clearly, he is no lefty), he says that by only working for his own base, the US is now "a country that is completely torn apart".
8. Schuwer says that all ambassadors start the day by scrolling through Trump's morning tweets. He also says that his former contacts (mostly in State Dept) have either left or are no longer relevant. "Now everything is led from the White House."
9. Perhaps most striking, and important, he says that, because of chaos and unwillingness in White House, Dutch government has started to directly deal with individual states more, ignoring the federal government.
10. Arguing that Trump came in without a plan and personnel, State Department is irrelevant and understaffed. Everything works through group of "special representatives" (of WH in State Dept), but they are completely overwhelmed with work.
11. Bit overplaying Rutte's influence on and rapport with Trump, he explains how Rutte is playing Trump, by buttering him up, and then presenting him with plasticized one-pagers with pix on important economic issues, which are then negotiated between Dutch and US civil servants.
12. Point is: Trump is only interested in few issues. On others, he can easily be sidelined and is happy to leave that to his cabinet members or civil servants. As long as you play to his ego, he will agree to almost anything -- as long as it doesn't go to his small core issues.
13. Although living in same street as Kushner, he says he mainly deal with Trump's special representative Jason Greenblatt. When journalist says that Kushner made US Middle East policy, Schuwer says: "I think Netanyahu makes that". 💥
14. Finally, my most recognizable part is: "If you learn one thing in America, is it : 'you can't discuss with a hat'" (i.e with someone in uniform). 👍
15. Ex-Ambassador Schuwer ends with how much he learned from leaving DC and traveling through "heartland" of US. I hope new @NLAmbassadorUSA will not wait that long. He and @NLintheUSA staff are welcome in Athens, GA! #TheEnd
