[ad_1]
In the last meters, the president of the United States, Trump, re-creates facts. Controversial decisions like the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and Iraq could make it difficult for his successor Biden to rule.
By Katrin Brand, ARD Studio Washington
In the 14 days since the election, current US President Donald Trump has played golf several times, tweeted a lot, watched television, and thought about attacking Iran. The public knows the latter because the “New York Times” reported that there was a meeting at the White House last week where Trump’s idea was seriously discussed.
This outraged Senator Chris Coons of Delaware. “Those are precisely the things that should not be done in the middle of the transition,” he said on PBS. It could eventually lead to a bigger crisis. Trump’s advisers have apparently dissuaded him from the military attack on Iran. But the example shows: Trump is not only not ready to admit defeat, he also wants to rule correctly again.
Party friends complain too
Yesterday, Christopher Miller, Acting Secretary of Defense, announced that the United States would withdraw more than 2,000 troops from Afghanistan and Iraq. “On January 15, 2021, the troop strength in Afghanistan will be 2,500,” Miller said, also in Iraq. Trump campaigned to keep America out of wars and conflicts and to bring his soldiers back.
This breakthrough, however, is currently flying around Trump’s ears. Even his most trusted partner, Mitch McConnell, leader of the Senate Republicans, made it clear: “A swift withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan would hurt our allies and please those who want us badly.”
Trump continues to build walls and drill
Trump is also trying to create facts in the north and south of the US On the border with Mexico, he is pushing the wall construction project, knowing full well that Joe Biden has promised not to continue building. And now, for example, in Arizona, dredging and masonry are going on as long as possible. “Every day, the Department of Homeland Security goes ahead and blows up these wild mountains,” said Laiken Jordahl of the Center for Biodiversity in Tucson at NPR. This creates space for a wall that will probably never be built. However, the ministry wants to complete more than 700 kilometers of wall before the end of the year.
In the north, Trump wants to unleash the oil and gas industry. In Alaska, companies can now register their wishes where in the national nature reserve they would like to drill. Trump is particularly proud of the fact that he rolled back environmental protection there. No president approved it except him, he said during the election campaign. In Alaska’s protected rainforest in the Tongass National Forest, Trump had given permission to cut trees and build roads before the election.
Biden will not be able to reverse all these decisions if he lacks a majority in the Senate. Either way: Trump puts obstacles in his way and makes sure his name stays in the conversation.
