Trump's foreign strategy still rests heavily on courting autocrats

[Judi Lynn]

By Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times
Published: September 2, 2024, 6:00am

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — When El Salvador’s autocratic president, Nayib Bukele, celebrated his inauguration this summer, guests of honor included Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson and Rep. Matt Gaetz, the firebrand Republican from Florida.

The right-wing celebrities attended the swearing-in ceremony at the Salvadoran National Palace, joined in the sumptuous black-tie dinner that followed and posed for numerous photos with Bukele, who wore a gold-embroidered black suit somewhere between a military uniform and a Nehru jacket.

“I came because something remarkable is happening here,” Carlson later gushed to Bukele during an interview for the former Fox News host’s podcast.

“You’re the most popular elected official in the world — provable fact,” Carlson added as the two sat amid elephant ear plants on Bukele’s verdant patio.

“Honored to be at @nayibbukele ‘s inauguration to support a leader willing to fight the globalist for the benefit of his people,” Trump Jr. wrote on Twitter, now known as X, after emerging from a one-on-one meeting at the palace with Bukele. “We need more like him.”

More:
https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/sep/02/trumps-foreign-strategy-still-rests-heavily-on-courting-autocrats/

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. Is that a strategy? Or a sure-fire guarantee of a US foreign policy fuck-up?

[EverHopeful]

2. May I recommend the book Autocracy, Inc by Anne Applebaum?

Haven't made it very far into the book yet because I'm finding it thoroughly depressing but I always learn so much from reading Anne Applebaum that I already consider the book essential reading.

I also recommend The Authoritarians by Dr. Bob Altemeyer. You can get a free copy here:

https://theauthoritarians.org/

There are additional books available at the website, including one that was recommended by a fellow DU-er, Authoritarian Nightmare by John Dean and Bob Altemeyer.