Shakespeare warned us more than four centuries ago: “The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.”
asserted
good → warn → bones
Trump would be wise to remember those words as he considers how history will judge his presidency.
asserted
history → remember → presidency
I voted for Trump three times, and I have no regrets about doing so.
asserted
I → vote → regrets
I strongly support many of his policies and believe he has accomplished much that deserves recognition.
asserted
that → support → recognition
But even those of us who support his policies should be willing to say when he is hurting his own cause.
asserted
he → support → cause
And lately, Trump too often seems determined to snatch controversy from the jaws of accomplishment.
asserted
Trump → seem → accomplishment
I frequently find myself having to apologize for what I jokingly call his “alligator mouth biting his hummingbird ass.”
asserted
I → find → ass
It is crude, perhaps, but it captures the problem perfectly.
asserted
it → capture → problem
Trump can achieve something politically significant one day and then, with a few unnecessary words, ensure that the controversy rather than the accomplishment dominates the conversation.
asserted
controversy → achieve → conversation
What political purpose is served by talking about Canada as the “51st state,” renaming geographic landmarks, or attaching his own name to prominent American institutions?
asserted
purpose → serve → institutions
How do these things advance the policies Americans elected him to pursue?
asserted
Americans → advance → him
They don’t.
asserted
They → do → ?
Instead, they provide ammunition to his opponents, frustrate some of his supporters, and alienate Americans who might otherwise agree with him on the border, the economy, national defense, energy, government spending, or any number of other issues.
uncertain
who → provide → issues
That matters because elections are not won solely by appealing to people who already support you.
asserted
who → matter → you
But the damage does not stop at America’s shores.
asserted
damage → stop → shores
A president of the United States is not merely speaking to Republicans, Democrats, or the American electorate.
asserted
president → speak → Republicans
Every presidential statement is heard in Ottawa, London, Brussels, Tokyo, Canberra, and throughout the world.
asserted
statement → hear → world
Friends and adversaries alike listen carefully, because America’s words have consequences.
asserted
words → listen → consequences
That is why Trump’s unnecessary antagonism toward longtime allies concerns me.
asserted
antagonism → concern → me
There is a legitimate case for demanding that NATO members carry a greater share of the burden for their own defense, for insisting on fairer trade arrangements, and for putting American interests first.
asserted
members → be → interests
Americans and Canadians have fought alongside one another, traded with one another, defended the same continent, and built one of the closest bilateral relationships in modern history.
asserted
Americans → fight → history
Repeatedly referring to Canada as America’s “51st state” may amuse some supporters, but it also risks turning legitimate policy disagreements into resentment toward the U.S. itself.
uncertain
it → refer → U.S.
The same principle applies to Europe and other long-standing American partners.
asserted
principle → apply → Europe
America is stronger when dependable allies are willing to share intelligence, provide bases and overflight rights, contribute forces, support sanctions, cooperate economically, and stand beside us when international crises erupt.
asserted
crises → share → us
There is evidence that this reservoir of goodwill is being depleted.
asserted
reservoir → be → goodwill
A 2026 Pew Research Center survey of more than 42,000 people in 36 countries found a median of only 23% expressing confidence in Trump’s leadership of world affairs.
asserted
survey → find → affairs
Favorable views of the U.S. had also declined in many countries.
asserted
views → decline → countries
Those numbers should concern every American, regardless of political affiliation.
asserted
numbers → concern → affiliation
Canada has been exploring closer strategic and economic cooperation with Europe as tensions with Washington have increased.
asserted
tensions → explore → Washington
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recently argued for stronger Canada-European cooperation in defense, energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, and trade.
asserted
Carney → argue → defense
To be fair, Trump’s confrontational approach can produce results.
asserted
approach → produce → results
His pressure on Greenland, for example, was followed by a September 2026 agreement among the U.S., Denmark, and Greenland expanding America’s military presence there while respecting Greenland’s role and self-determination.
asserted
pressure → follow → role
The issue, therefore, is not whether Trump should negotiate aggressively.
asserted
Trump → negotiate → ?
American presidents are supposed to advance American interests.
asserted
presidents → suppose → interests
After spending much of my Marine Corps career working with allies and coalition forces, I learned that trust and confidence are combat power.
asserted
trust → spend → allies
They can take decades to build and remarkably little time to squander.
asserted
They → take → decades
When a crisis comes, America needs more than just aircraft carriers, fighter aircraft, missiles, and economic power.
asserted
America → come → carriers
It needs nations willing to stand beside us because they believe the U.S. will stand beside them.
asserted
U.S. → need → them
Trump should remember that “America First” does not have to mean America alone.
asserted
First → remember → America
A strong president can demand more from our allies without treating them as adversaries.
asserted
president → demand → adversaries
…and 26 more, not listed.
The Aporia
