Donald Trump’s speech in Warsaw was a revelation and provided some comfort at a time of global uncertainty.
For all his unpredictability and occasional incoherence on foreign policy there has always been an underlying assertion that Trump was about restoring American exceptionalism; he was going to stop apologising for America and reassert its interests and those of its allies.
• TRUMP ADDRESS: read the full transcript
In Poland the President spoke eloquently about the strong links between the Polish people and America but, more importantly, of the values, faith and courage that has guided the Poles through unspeakable trauma at the hands of Nazi Germany and then Soviet Russia. Trump adroitly used the spirit and resilience of Poland to underline these same qualities that the US aspires to uphold.
It was masterful rhetoric rooted in fundamental truths and reasserting not just the supremacy — for all its occasional faults and failings — of the United States as the beacon of freedom, democracy and innovation but also the unrivalled place of Western civilisation as the pinnacle thus far of human development. The President spoke about how civilisation is under threat from Islamist extremists and those who would strangle it from within by placing government authority above personal liberty. And he pledged to defend it.
This speech was Reaganesque in its cultural and sovereign confidence. It consigned to history the apologetic stance adopted by Barack Obama — most noticeably in his Cairo speech of 2009 — and demonstrated that, under Trump, America will not hesitate to assert its values as morally superior to those of sometime-foes such as Vladimir Putin’s Russia, much less rogue regimes such as Kim Jong Un’s North Korea.
The crushingly difficult dilemma Trump faces now, is to follow through with actions that can see US aims succeed where so many presidents have failed in quandaries such as Syria, Palestine and the Korean Peninsula. The G20 will focus on some of these difficulties, particularly North Korea.
But make no mistake, President Trump’s Warsaw speech will be remembered in history — either as the exposition of a world view that defines his presidency or as a piece of soaring rhetoric that he failed to live up to. Do yourself a favour, whatever you think of Trump, read it.
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