Thread by @JeffRoushPoetry

Right now, before our eyes, we are seeing unfold before us the best reasons to reject the “America First” foreign policy ideas of the prior administration. While this moment of crisis is terrifying right now, it could have been much more so. (Thread)

First, a note: some on both sides of the aisle might argue, and not without merit, that this isn’t the time for that discussion. Trump is both out of power and a doddering idiot, and our focus should be on what those in power need to do.

But since so many on the right remain in the thrall of both Trump and Trumpism, to the point of praising Putin in this moment, the alternative to the leadership we have in place is neither as hypothetical nor as remote as one might wish. The big ideas matter as much as ever now.

1. The most obvious area in which the current administration is better equipped to manage this is its treatment of our allies. Trump wanted to withdraw from NATO, and alienated our allies in Europe. Biden has worked from the start to repair that damage.

We cannot control what Putin does; all the US can do is affect the response. And more options are on the table when we are working with our allies. Both diplomatic and militaristic options are open in ways they would not have been under “America First.”

2. I’ve been seeing an argument that Biden’s approach to Putin provoked this. That is short-sighted. Trump wanted to avoid conflict with Russia through flattery and acquiescence: give Putin everything he wanted, and praise him throughout.

The idea that Putin valued praise over power is ludicrous. He was directing cyber-attacks and disinformation campaigns before 2016 and never stopped. The preparation to weaken our democracy began long ago. All evidence suggests helping Trump was part of that strategy.

And Putin’s plan to invade Ukraine didn’t start when Biden was elected either. This is a long game. But having a president already preparing to stand up to Russia is better than one who was always ready to bend over for Putin.

3. Our democracy is not as solid as it once was. If we are to take leadership in defending a democratic Ukraine against the invasion of a despotic Russia, we need a leader who believes in democracy. This is not a small thing.

Trump abandoned the notion of world leadership, because he is not a leader. He is a boardroom bully who showed neither acumen nor interest in actual leadership, whether within our borders or in the world all nations share. This crisis can’t be managed that way.

The whole premise of “America First” almost requires abandonment of world leadership. That Trump is praised by weaklings and sycophants makes his lack of leadership qualities no less stark; if anything, it only displays that failing much more clearly.

I don’t know how this crisis will unfold; there are too many variables and too many unknowable elements. But I am glad we have the president we do in this moment, rather than the one we had two years ago, and might have had today.

Those seeking to capitalize on crises to attack the president are interested in neither the world order nor having actual leadership. They value power over the ideals on which our nation was built. Whatever happens in the coming days and weeks, don’t forget that reality.