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Mexico, Canada, Japan and the entire European Union are furious with Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on their exports, levies that could upend the world's economic order.
Trump's erstwhile buddy and April hand-holder Emmanuel Macron of France called the EU tariffs "illegal," while Japan blasted them as "deeply deplorable."
The overseas uproar has had little impact on the Tweeter-in-chief.
Trump, though, severely overplayed his hand last night when he disinvited the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles for a White House photo-shoot.
Hell hath no fury like Philadelphia sports fans spurned. Those rabid fanatics are renowned for booing and pelting Santa Claus with snowballs and opposing players with batteries and beer bottles. Dissing their Eagles is not a good way to win much-needed friends in the City of Brotherly Love.
After the White House learned that less than 10 players were going to pay homage to the president, Trump, who is obsessed with crowd size, pulled the rug from under the team.
As is his wont, the president then concocted a phony story about cancelling the Birds' visit because they "disagree with their president because he insists that they proudly stand for the national anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country."
Spare us. Not a single Eagle knelt last year during the playing of the anthem. The Eagles were skipping the White House in protest of the policies of Trump, not the flag. They understand patriotism is not defined as blind loyalty to the leadership of the US. That may work in North Korea, which has captured the fancy of Trump, but not here.
In a desperate face-saving move, the White House issued a statement today that accused the Eagles of abandoning the 1,000 fans who were cleared to attend the event. It's sad how Trump constantly plays the blame game, like a child.
Instead of cheering their team, the audience was to be entertained with a "celebration of the American flag and performances by the Marine band and Army chorus" and an appearance by King Trump. That's definitely not what the Eagle fans signed up for, but it doesn’t matter. The event was to become a bone that Trump can toss to his base.
The Philadelphia Inquirer ran an editorial today in support of the Eagles for standing up for their First Amendment rights to disagree with a sitting president or anyone else in power.
It slapped Trump for his unwillingness to meet the Eagles face-to-face to learn why players throughout the league kneel, raise a fist or remain in the locker room during the national anthem.
Trump doesn't give a fig for the opinions of football players or anybody who doesn't genuflect in awe before him.
It's 24/7 about him. Sad.
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