The VSG further strains US alliances

The G7 meeting is happening this seeking, and, in addition to the latest bit of boorishness displayed toward Canada's Pierre Trudeau, the VSG goes into it with. the much-vaunted bromance with France's Macron also now sullied. He's signaling that he may walk out before the whole meeting has taken place. Macron expressed displeasure at this, and the VSG wasted no time responding:


Macron's tweet:

The American President may not mind being isolated, but neither do we mind signing a 6 country agreement if need be. Because these 6 countries represent values, they represent an economic market which has the weight of history behind it and which is now a true international force

The VSG:

 

Even as late as Thursday afternoon, Trump was questioning why he would attend a G7 meeting where he's outnumbered on key issues like trade and climate change. As a series of combative tweets from Macron began emerging late in the day, Trump again raised the prospect of scrubbing all or part of his visit to Canada, asking advisers what the point of attending the summit would be, according to a person familiar with the conversations. 

He was told that canceling the visit entirely would appear like he's shrinking from a fight he proudly began. And with that in his head, Trump told his advisers he'll enter the talks swinging. 

And swing he did on Twitter, responding to Macron's assertion that G7 nations would band together without the US.

"Please tell Prime Minister Trudeau and President Macron that they are charging the U.S. massive tariffs and create non-monetary barriers. The EU trade surplus with the U.S. is $151 Billion, and Canada keeps our farmers and others out. Look forward to seeing them tomorrow," Trump tweeted.

And, through administration staffers, is signaling that he's none too keen on the UK's Teresa May:

Donald Trump has grown frustrated with Theresa May’s “school mistress” tone, allies of the president have told The Telegraph, as it emerged the pair will not hold formal talks at the G7 summit in Canada.

The US president is said to bristle at the Prime Minister’s approach during phone calls, with Mrs May quick to get into policy details rather than wider conversation. 

One senior US diplomat said Mr Trump had expressed annoyance at Mrs May’s frequent demands, which are seen as taking advantage of the UK-US relationship.

If there's one thing we know about the VSG, it's that he quickly gets annoyed with those pesky "details."

The US does indeed have the correct policy toward the climate-change nonsense, but this is hardly the way to go about making that clear to all involved. One can safely assume that the VSG is handling it this way because to stay and discuss it with his peers (although I doubt he'd see them as peers) would entail immersing himself in yet more pesky details.

And just who does he expect to have his back at the summit with Kim once things get more, shall we say, detailed after the initial photo op?

Spin this into 5-D chess, all you slavish devotees.