The Republican candidate answers on board of his private Boeing to an interview for the italian newspaper “Corriere della Sera“: “I think Angela Merkel has made a huge mistake in allowing the entry of immigrants in Germany. I am ready to invite Putin and to deal with Kim Jong-un once President.”
Angela Merkel? “She made a big mistake in allowing the entry of migrants (the so called “refugees”) in Germany. A huge mistake.” The economic policy of Mario Draghi? “Frankly, no one knows if it will work or not. Probably will be very counter-productive in the long term.” And the common currency? The euro? “I didn’t love the idea of the euro from the beginning of the project. And I don’t start to like it now.”
Europe: from Merkel to Brexit
Trump is asked an opinion on German Chancellor Angela Merkel and he did not think twice: “I think she made a mistake in allowing the entry of migrants in Germany. I have friends who live in Germany and are unable to comprehend how their life has changed. It was a huge mistake, huge.”
Trump is not a fan of the euro. “I didn’t love the idea of the euro from the beginning. And I don’t start to like it now. I think it makes things more complicated.” Then was asked about the Brexit. Trump remember how on several occasions indicated that Britain – which on June 23 will go to the polls to decide whether to stay or leave the EU – “would stay better” outside the European Union. “Personally, I would be more inclined to get out of it for several reasons, for example to get a less bureaucracy,” he says. “But I’m not a British citizen. This is only my opinion.”
Relations with Russia
The conversation then turned to Vladimir Putin, who during an economic summit in St. Petersburg last Thursday praised Trump describing him as “brilliant” and highlighting his readiness “to a full resumption of Russian-American relations.”
“I think what he said is correct – it is the answer of Trump – I think we should maintain relations. I believe that getting along with Russia would be an excellent thing, which would have positive repercussions throughout the world.” Invite Putin to Washington? “I would have absolutely no problem with it, really no problem.”
Do you believe that America and Russia should join forces to defeat ISIS? Trump nods. “I think it would be very helpful if we would coordinate to achieve this common goal. They too want to beat ISIS. Russia is a power. I believe that a coordinated effort would be a good thing, not a negative.”
ISIS and other challenges
But what should America do about ISIS? “We have to beat ISIS, especially with what is happening now, with what they can do through the Internet, recruiting people who, in many cases, are ill-informed, silly, stupid, young and what else. So many people are affiliating ISIS. They use the web better than us. Coordination with Russia and with others is a good thing, not a negative.”
Changing subject, he is asked how he would involve with China if he would be elected president. “I would finalize better trade agreements,” is his reply. “We are losing billions and billions of dollars in our trade agreements mismanaged by Obama with China, I would re-negotiate these agreements. This is one of the first things I would do.”
They speak then of the criticism he has received for having declared his intention to invite North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Washington for a talk meeting. “I will speak with everyone,” says the shark of diplomacy. But will be able to have a constructive conversation with him? “Maybe, maybe not. But you know what? We don’t lose anything trying. There’s no harm in talking and we lose nothing.”