Does Donald Trump want to be the world's father figure?

That might help explain his lurch toward globalist interventionism

Daddy Trump?
(Image credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Probably everybody can think of a moment in the past 100 days when President Trump has done something that surprised them, for better or worse.

But the America First noninterventionist Middle East Twitter Cassandra suddenly lobbing 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian government air base because Syrian President Bashar al-Assad killed scores of civilians with nerve gas? That was truly shocking. And it seemed to kick off a cascade of other curious decisions: Soon Trump, who had already vowed to protect Japan, was rattling sabers at North Korea. He decided that China is a partner, Russia a frenemy, Canada a trading rival, NATO a relevant priority for the U.S., the Paris climate agreement something to consider, and NAFTA something to keep alive.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.