The time has come for Donald Trump to realise that he is no longer a political outsider stumping for votes. He is now the president-elect of the world’s sole remaining super power and as the man in that role, he must understand that his words will have immediate consequences. Twice this week, his wilful ignorance of the consequences of his actions have resulted in both international and domestic embarrassment and consternation. Trump’s highly unusual conversation with Taiwan’s president last week upset China, a country with whom he will have to address the issues of trade and the America’s role in east Asia.
Seeming to have learned nothing from that, Trump then attacked one of America’s biggest manufacturing firms, Boeing. Trump tweeted that the costs of the new Boeing 747, which will serve as Air Force One, were “out of control”.
Boeing’s stock tanked by $2 (Dh7.34) a share before the company responded with a comment of its own, which calmed investors and helped lift the stock back up, but Trump’s comments still sent a shock-wave through equity markets. Analysts are now concerned that companies will become fearful of angering Trump, lest they too face an angry, stock-deflating barrage from the future president.
Maybe Trump could learn something about restraint and decorum from Boeing and China, neither of which resorted to an unfiltered outburst on social media. And he needs to do it fast. If he continues with his undiplomatic rants, he will sooner or later make a critical mistake on an issue of substance on which there will be no chance for apology. Granted, we don’t expect that he knows how to do that either.
