The esteemed George Will, who for many years has been the voice of conservatism in the United States, takes the Trump administration to task in his opinion piece, “This is American greatness only if you have a MAGA-nifying glass,” which appeared in the Washington Post.
Rubio on his MAGA knees
George Will’s piece criticizes the Trump administration’s foreign policy, particularly highlighting Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s praise for Trump’s actions. Will characterizing Rubio as a “small” man in comparison to the “giants” of diplomacy who have been Secretary of State (Jefferson, Monroe, Madison, John Quincy Adams, Marshall, etc.), argues that Rubio’s admiration for Trump’s approach marks a significant departure from the U.S.’s long-standing support for democracies, instead rewarding war criminals. He references a video showing Russians murdering unresisting Ukrainian prisoners of war, emphasizing the gravity of this shift in policy. Will also rightly question Rubio’s loyalty and suggest that his praise for Trump is misplaced. While Will doesn’t use the word sycophant, Rubio’s genuflection before Trump screams it to the common man.
Vance an ignorant MAGA bull in his china shop
Will continues that Vice President JD Vance’s comments on European conflicts are “a bull who carries a china shop around with him,” a descriptor used to describe Secretary of State John Foster Dulles during the Eisenhower era. Vance’s display of ignorance is stunning, as he suggests that Europe’s largest war since 1945 is merely a product of ethnic rivalries. To be clear, Russia invaded Ukraine, Russia is the aggressor.
Musk hyperactivity does not equal achievement
Elon Musk’s agreement with a call to leave NATO, arguing that Musk, like Trump, confuses hyperactivity with achievement. He suggests that Musk’s incessant commentary on various issues, including the need to end NATO, diminishes his credibility. Might it be the ketamine? And you know he uses AI to create the nonstop barrage of tweets on his X platform.
Deja Vu all over again – Tariffs
The piece further criticizes Trump’s protectionist policies, such as imposing tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Will argues that these actions are misguided and do not genuinely protect America’s interests. Will doesn’t reference the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act (41 page pdf from the National Bureau of Economic Research on the Tariff Act of 1930) and how destructive it was to the United States economy, but he should have.
He does, however, take aim at Trump’s suggestion that Canada should become the 51st state and trade adviser Peter Navarro’s push for revisions to the U.S.-Canada border. Will sees these actions as attempts to revive outdated expansionist ideas and questions their relevance in the modern world.
Hegseth – Champion of pettiness
Finally, Will addresses Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s pettiness. Hegseth ordered the removal of portraits of officials who “offended” Trump during his first term. MAGAism has the erasure of history as a key component and the promotion of a mean-spirited approach to governance. Will concludes with the 1966 quote from Alabama’s Democratic Gov. George Wallace, “Hell, we got too much dignity in government now, what we need is some meanness.”
Trump’s administration has achieved both a new level of “pettiness” and the “meanness” factor.
