[…] Trump has acted like an Ugly American in many ways. He has interfered in Brazil’s internal affairs by all but ordering it to drop the prosecution of its rightwing former president (and Trump buddy) Jair Bolsonaro for conspiring to stage a coup to return to power. When Brazil didn’t drop the prosecution – Bolsonaro was convicted and sentenced to 27 years in prison – Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods.
In recent weeks, Trump has played the Ugly, even Crazed, American toward Canada when he grew outraged after seeing a television ad, sponsored by the province of Ontario, that contained excerpts of a Ronald Reagan speech critical of tariffs. In retaliation, Trump imposed an additional 10% tariff on Canadian goods. That move further angered Canadians who were already furious about Trump’s absurd idea to make Canada the 51st state.
Trump has also sought to bully Colombia. He said the US would cut off aid to that country after its president, Gustavo Petro, complained that the US had struck a Colombian fishing boat and killed a fisher as part of Trump’s campaign of attacking boats allegedly transporting drugs. Using ugly, undiplomatic language, Trump called Colombia’s president an “illegal drug leader”.
Simultaneously come Trump’s on-again, off-again threats to launch military strikes against Venezuela. Läs artikel