[THS] Weakened US a laughing stock, says Donald Trump

[The Harder Stuff in news and commentary]

Weakened US a laughing stock, says Donald Trump

From: AAP
April 18, 2011 7:42AM

Donald TrumpBillionaire Donald Trump said US President Barack Obama is a weak
leader / AFP Source: AFP

* Donald Trump slams timid US foreign policy
* Says US is the laughing stock of the world
* Libya a mess, "take the oil or don't go in at all"

BILLIONAIRE businessman Donald Trump, who is flirting with a White House run, has
lamented that the United States has become a "laughing stock" too timid to wield its
power assertively on the world stage.

"We have such power if we knew how to use it," Trump told CNN television in an
interview.

He said that by failing to move more decisively in its foreign policy, "this country is a
laughing stock throughout the world".

Trump, 64, has not yet announced that he is running for president, but he has
become more visible in recent weeks, giving more interviews and stepping us his
criticism of President Barack Obama ahead of a possible 2012 challenge.

The wise-cracking, straight-talking real-estate magnate, an early frontrunner among
possible Republican presidential contenders, renewed his criticism of Obama as an
"ineffective" leader.

He offered the US role in military action against Libya's Muammar Gaddafi as proof of
America's new impotence.

"Look at Libya. Look at this mess," an exasperated Trump said.

"We go in, we don't go in, he shouldn't be removed, we don't want to remove him,
we don't want to touch him, but he should be removed. Nobody knows what they're
doing on Gaddafi.

"I'd do one thing. Either I'd go in and take the oil or I don't go in at all," he said.

"In the old days, when you have a war and you win, that nation is yours."

The billionaire mogul was equally incensed over US policy toward Beijing.

"If you look at what China is doing, they're stealing our jobs, they're taking our
money. They're then loaning our money back. It's amazing," Trump said.

"They're making all of our products," he said. "They are also manipulating the
currency that makes it almost impossible for our companies to compete with China."

Trump, as much a celebrity in the US as he is a business tycoon, has a massive
financial empire that spans everything from beauty contests to prime New York real
estate.

Ranked the 420th wealthiest person this year by Forbes magazine with $US2.7 billion
($2.57 billion), the man nicknamed The Donald has said if he runs he is likely to make
the announcement on his own hit reality TV show, Celebrity Apprentice.

He insisted he would be a reluctant candidate, despite his recent barrage of
interviews.

"I wish I didn't have to do it. I would prefer not doing it. But I love this country," said
Trump.

"If you ask me, what are the odds, I'll let you know some time prior to June. But I will
tell you, I am giving it serious, serious thought."

Source:
http://www.news.com.au/world/weakened-us-a-laughing-stock-says-donald-
trump/story-e6frfkyi-1226040717837?from=news+newsletter_rss