Mr. Trump: This Is Not an Auction!

What do the security interests of NATO members and Taylor Swift have in common? At first glance, nothing. But in Donald Trump’s mind, it’s money.

The weekend of Feb. 10-11 offered an update to the originality of Donald Trump’s public comments, which are generally eccentric in the worst possible way. And although this eccentricity is no longer novel to any of us, it is worth remembering that we should not get used to it. The main danger in the rambling of a man who may well become the most important person in the world in November lies in the possibility that such rambling may no longer surprise us one day. Because if we get used to it, without realizing it, we will move one step closer to normalizing such digressions.

Saturday was a campaign rally day for Trump, who needs turn these appearances into TV moments that replay dozens of times every week, like a reality show. Perhaps this is all part of his strategy to attract those who want to elect a celebrity rather than a leader. Whatever the reason, what really matters is that some of his more original strategies have shaken up not just the Republican candidate’s popularity ratings but also the stability and security assumptions of European and Western nations. This Saturday’s rally was marked by Trump’s reminiscing about a conversation he had with the leader of a NATO country during which he revealed his attitude about the eventuality of a Russian invasion of a NATO country that had not fully met its financial obligations to the organization: “You didn’t pay, you’re delinquent. … No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You got to pay. You got to pay your bills.”

Dishonorable and detached from the gravity at the heart of NATO’s origin and mission, whose function does not follow the law of the highest bidder like an auction, these statements prompted international diplomats to posit that they had never heard an American president spout such incendiary language about the alliance. Trump’s footprints in NATO’s history are well known, such as in 2018 when the former president threatened to walk away from the more than 70-year-old alliance, all because of a question of money. Trump is not a fan of trans-Atlantic commitments, and leaders and politicians have understood this and are openly speaking about the dangers inherent in this attitude, particularly if the Republican candidate wins the election in November. The embarrassment and concern generated by his remarks have left Europe in a heightened state of alert about his potential victory, largely because of the Ukrainian question, soon to hit the two-year mark.

As Marko Mihkelson, chairman of Estonian Parliament’s foreign affairs committee, warned, Trump is “a very convenient tool for Putin’s Russia.” If the United States does indeed abandon NATO, driven by its displeasure at some members’ inability to fulfill their financial obligations, all of Europe, not just Ukraine and its neighbors, really will be at the mercy of the Russian president, as well as other potential aggressors. In addition, Trump’s sense of impunity in those remarks made the prospect of a global conflict, a World War III, more likely. Perhaps we need to remind Mr. Trump that an attack on any one NATO member means an attack on all NATO members.

Sunday was Super Bowl. You would think that the most eagerly awaited game of the year could not possibly have anything to do with Trump. But it did, because Trump is like that, an ace at focusing attention on himself, unexpectedly and often inappropriately, even in the most iconic national moments. At a time when America, including Taylor Swift, had its eyes glued to the championship game between the 49ers and the Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Trump burst through the cacophony of predictions and odds about the game to insert his own divinations on his social media site Truth Social, this time using the pop star’s name: “There’s no way she could endorse Crooked Joe Biden… and be disloyal to the man who made her so much money.”

In doing this, Trump accomplishes two things. First, he shrewdly takes advantage of a key cultural moment and prominent celebrity. Stealing the spotlight just hours before the start of the Super Bowl is a feat that, like it or not, pays dividends. And stealing the spotlight by talking about Swift is even more worthwhile since the young singer can count on a legion of fans far greater in number than the support for Trump and Biden combined, perhaps even four times as much. Second, he frames issues with terms he feels are most important: money, always the money. The former president is referring to himself when he claims that Swift cannot “be disloyal to the man who made her so much money,” a statement directly linked to a legislative act regarding artist royalties passed during his term in office. In an age of streaming, this 2018 bill was a key step in promoting and valuing the work of American artists. And Trump now wants to take credit for its passage, claiming that “Biden didn’t do anything for Taylor, and never will” in a clear attempt to personalize a legislative achievement. After all, was this new law just about Swift or was did Congress intend it to benefit all artists?

Trump’s goal is obvious: to reach an enormous number of people by using Swift, America’s iconic star of the moment. But this almost desperate attempt to take credit for her success is too contrived and artificial to have much of a chance of keeping Swift from endorsing Biden, as she did in 2020. The idea of using an artist’s popularity to connect to a broader electorate isn’t necessarily an unconventional tactic, but making use of a tool that is as un-Swiftie as money isn’t exactly the smartest move.

In short, there is little positive to take from these events. Signs of Trump’s popularity are evident throughout the U.S. capital, particularly in comparison to Biden. The driving force animating the political tourism industry in Washington, D.C., where I’m writing this column, is clearly the former president and now candidate for a second term. It is easy to note a clear pro-Trump vibe among tourists, who give as much attention to Trump merchandise as they do the venerable Abraham Lincoln. In other words, you have to work a little harder at finding a postcard with a picture of Biden than you do to find an umbrella, electric razor or purse inscribed with “Trump 2024.” Pondering what all this might mean, the warning from former German Cabinet Minister Norbert Röttgen in the wake of Trump’s Saturday campaign event could not make any more sense: “Everyone should watch this video of #Trump to understand that Europe may soon have no choice but to defend itself.”