America's Good Cop

Marco Rubio's speech in Munich on Saturday was the most intelligent piece of foreign policy the current US administration has produced so far. Intelligent because it was polished, well-argued, and seemingly conciliatory. In fact, European governments greeted the speech with relief, like someone expecting the coup de grâce and suddenly being offered a lifeline.

But the speech had two problems, the first of which is obvious: the dissonance between the Secretary of State's hopeful outlook and the brutal actions of the President, sending his police to sow terror in Minneapolis, threatening Canada, or making a fool of himself in Greenland.

The second problem is the manipulation of concepts. Rubio spoke of the "spiritual connection" through the Christian faith that Europeans brought to America "as a sacred heritage and unbreakable bond between the Old and New Worlds." What Christian faith is there in detaining children, insulting nations, or establishing the worship of the golden calf? Rubio said that the United States, under Trump, will once again restore a civilization proud of its past. Is the past we want to return one that is racist, misogynistic, violent, and devoid of human rights?

Rubio said that Trump was demanding seriousness and reciprocity from Europe to fight for the same lifestyle. Seriousness in the sense of mass deportations, pollution, lies, never apologizing, or dismantling what's left of the welfare state? Does Trump, who posts videos of the Obamas acting like monkeys, have any authority to free us from the "guilt and shame" he claims plagues us?

It is true that Trump has confronted Europe with its responsibilities, but we Europeans must face them with our own solutions.