Why We Worry About the US Republican Candidate

The American real estate billionaire Donald Trump has been confirmed as the de facto Republican candidate in the U.S. presidential election to be held this November. Since declaring his candidature last June, Trump has voiced divisive and violent statements that many disapproved of. Now, the world is forced to consider an America led by Trump. Trump’s call for self-reflection in regards to the increasing polarization in America and the failure of the established political parties to resolve it is not that simple. However, the president of the United States is also the leader of the world. If his diplomatic and economic initiatives become a reality, the world is likely to drown in chaos and conflict.

Trump is seeking to prioritize American interests by pursuing an isolationist America. He has called Mexican immigrants criminals and asserted that all Muslims must be prevented from entering the United States. Trump has also declared that he is willing to pursue waterboarding and more serious forms of torture to catch terrorism in advance. These remarks make us doubt whether he possesses any regard for human rights, a fundamental and universal value of humankind. The way Trump views Korea is hardly like an ally. His words send shivers down our spines: “Japan is better if it protects itself against this maniac of North Korea. We are better off frankly if South Korea is going to start protecting itself. If they fight, you know what, that’d be a terrible thing. But if they do, they do.” He criticized South Korea for “paying peanuts” when it’s paying 920 billion won ($800 billion) for the U.S. military presence, about half of the total cost, and discredited South Korea’s efforts to participate in international nuclear nonproliferation by saying the country should arm itself with nuclear weapons.

On May 3, after the Indiana primary, Trump declared, “I will be the greatest jobs president that God ever created.” Free trade and globalization don’t bring benefits to every nation. Therefore, Trump is justified in arguing for a trade policy that prioritizes American jobs and incomes. However, if his view of trade as a “zero-sum game” does not change even when he does become president, the global economic order will be substantially shaken. For example, he accused China of thievery when he stated, “The money and the jobs they’ve taken from us? It is the greatest single theft in the history of the United States.”

One cannot find any sense of responsibility or sincerity in Trump, who shifts the blame for America’s problems overseas. As an expert negotiator, he could possibly change upon entering the White House. But for now, we can’t help but be concerned for the global catastrophe Trump will become as president of the United States. He should humbly accept the criticism that he puts America to shame and regain his reason. Otherwise, he will face resistance from the international community.