Donald Trump, Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron, Vladimir Putin and other politicians attend ceremony to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I in Paris, France, Nov. 11, 2018. Zheng Huansong/ Press Association. All rights reserved.
You’ve probably had your fill of the media coverage, punditry, tweets, and wisecracks surrounding President Trump’s controversial trip to Paris, officially undertaken to honor the Allied soldiers, especially the Americans, who perished in France during World War I. By now, we’re used to the president’s words and deeds prompting eye-rolling and jokes. But on this occasion, as on others, Trump’s behavior reflects deeper and dangerous political trends – ones he both exemplifies and fosters. This makes the Paris drama worth revisiting.
Getting away from it all
Maybe it wasn’t quite a “blue wave” in the House of Representatives (though it certainly qualified as a “pink wave”). Still, the Democrats did remarkably well in this month’s congressional elections, better than in any midterms since 1974. They seem set to gain between 35 and 40 seats (a few contests remain undecided), including in places Trump carried decisively in 2016.
