Is it possible that I am a minor source of moral inspiration to the Trump administration?
This may sound like a belated April Fool’s joke. The Trump team, with its emphasis on transactional politics, is not exactly a conclave of moralists. And as a liberal internationalist of European origin, I am not entirely in tune with the “America First” crowd. As I have noted, Trump supporters on right-wing websites have cheerfully dismissed me as a “hysterical” globalist or worse. They are unlikely to look to me for inspiration.
Yet, tracking recent debates about American proposals to make severe cuts to the United Nations, I have realized that the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, may be utilizing arguments I once made about the moral failings of peacekeeping to buttress her case. I am not sure whether to feel pleased or panicked.