This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
It is difficult to imagine that anyone would begin a relationship or negotiations by publicly insulting the other party. President Trump described our press as "the enemy of the people, disgusting liars." He called the intelligence community "inept, incompetent and bloated." It should not surprise a rational person when maligned people in the CIA or FBI quietly provide the press with information calculated to frustrate or defeat their common enemy.
Further, Trump described Mexico as a country of "rapists and criminals." He rudely dismissed Australia, Germany, France and the rest of the European Union. Trump intentionally embarrassed our NATO allies and NAFTA partners. As the times come to actually negotiate the terms of critical trade agreements and strategic alliances, we will be looking across the table at people who are still stinging from Trump's personal insults.
We should not expect any measure of good will or respect. This is really stupid, self-inflicted negative bargaining leverage. This chief executive has compromised our interests, putting us in a deep dark negotiating hole which will cost us dearly and be hard to fill.
Steven F. Lowe
Salt Lake City