He framed it as a cultural clash, aimed at "radical Islamic terrorism" (if you don't forget his refugee policies) and maybe those crossing the border at Mexico. This was at a time that the Polish government was slipping toward authoritarianism. Trump's appeal to the "bonds of history, culture, and memory" are classic nationalist phrases that Putin riffed on in attacking Ukraine -- that it is really a part of Russia and those nasty Nazis in Ukraine are trying to kill the Russian language there.

Trump 2017: “We must work together to confront forces, whether they come from inside or out, from the South or the East, that threaten over time to undermine these values and to erase the bonds of culture, faith, and tradition that make us who we are. If left unchecked, these forces will undermine our courage, sap our spirit, and weaken our will to defend ourselves and our societies.

“The fundamental question of our time is whether the West has the will to survive. Do we have the confidence in our values to defend them at any cost? Do we have enough respect for our citizens to protect our borders? Do we have the desire and the courage to preserve our civilization in the face of those who would subvert and destroy it?”


[Post edited by DanTheFan at 03/28/2022 2:21PM]