He also tossed down the gauntlet, and it made a loud clang...
And so I am here today not just to visit an old ally, but to hold it up as an example for others who seek freedom and who wish to summon the courage and the will to defend our civilization. (Applause.) The story of Poland is the story of a people who have never lost hope, who have never been broken, and who have never, ever forgotten who they are. (Applause)
Merkel and Macron have got to be nervous after a statement like that. The fact that Trump gave primacy to Poland, rather than France, England, or even Germany was not coincidental, as well. A message is being delivered, here, and we'll know next week if it was received. Watch the news to see if European leaders start softening their stance towards Trump..."He's not such a bad sort, after all." "America has been a staunch and valued ally." and so on...
Yes, it was all of that. For those who missed it, here is the transcript of the speech. And now consider that Trump is riding this thunderous statement of principle to the G20 Conference, with its inevitable, incessant gushing of globalist platitudes and climate communism. He preempted that biased reporting, that lofty condescension with this gem. Once again, he outsmarted the media. But better than that, he laid down this one:
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?
That is what he's riding into G20. It isn't about carbon credits, it's about culture. It's about freedom.