By Lauren Wasserman ’19
Name calling is an issue that sends students to the principal’s office, not often to war. This is because the only people who usually name call are young children who don’t know any better. However, there are exceptions to every rule, and U.S. president Donald Trump is an example of a grown man who has name called his way into a potential World War III.
On Sept. 19, Trump delivered his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, in which he attacked North Korea and Kim Jong Un. When addressing the North Korean regime’s threats towards the United States, Trump made belligerent remarks that scared the public: “We will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea,” Trump said.
Although inappropriate remarks like this are not unusual for Trump, there is reason to be worried this time. On Oct. 8 republican senator Bob Corker said that Trump was treating his position like a “reality show,” and even remarked that Trump’s commentary and name calling could set the United States, “on the path to World War III.” If Corker’s assertion is even slightly correct, the U.S. is in trouble.
It can be argued that “everyone makes mistakes,” but Trump’s remarks were not accidental, “Some of Trump’s top aides, including national security advisor H.R. McMaster, had argued for months against making the attacks on North Korea’s leader personal, warning it could backfire,” The Los Angeles Times said.
Furthering Corker’s argument, Un also made it clear that Trump’s remarks would not be taken lightly. “Now that Trump has denied the existence of and insulted me and my country in front of the eyes of the world and made the most ferocious declaration of a war in history that he would destroy North Korea,” Un said, “we will consider with seriousness exercising of a corresponding, highest level of hardline countermeasure in history.” He was clearly very angered by Trump’s inflammatory comments, and has made multiple war-like addresses towards the US.
According to The Chicago Tribune, “It was the first time for a North Korean leader to issue such a direct statement against a U.S. president, dramatically escalating the war of words between the former wartime foes and raising the international nuclear standoff to a new level.”
The actions of Trump have been extremely immature and ironic, considering his job is to set an example for the rest of the world rather than act like child. Trump has been in a pattern of talking unprofessionally however he has outdone himself by sporadically engaging in war. The question lies, will Corker be proven right or is this another scare that Trump has brought upon the nation?
