Tell us: Trump lectured on nationalism, but can it be beneficial to a country?
On a weekend meant to commemorate world war veterans, U.S. President Donald Trump’s moniker as a self-declared nationalist garnered international attention on the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.
“Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism. Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in Paris in front of over 60 world leaders, including Trump and Vladimir Putin, on Armistice Day.
“In saying ‘our interests first, whatever happens to others,’ you erase the most precious thing a nation can have, that which makes us live, that which causes it to be great and that which is most important: its moral values,” Macron went on to say during his speech.
Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism. Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism. By putting our own interests first, with no regard for others, we erase the very thing that a nation holds dearest, and the thing that keeps it alive: its moral values. https://t.co/w9AltyvMDw
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) November 11, 2018
The comments from the French president come after Trump declared himself a nationalist last month.
“A globalist is a person that wants to globe to do well, frankly, not caring about our country so much and you know what, we can’t have that,” the U.S. president said during at a rally for Sen. Ted Cruz in Houston. “They have a word, it sort of became old fashioned, it’s called a nationalist…you know what I am, I’m a nationalist. Use that word.”
A nationalist, by definition, is someone who is devoted to their own nation, putting their country’s interest before that of any other individual or group. But nationalism has also been associated with movements that led to Word War I and Word War II, including Adolf Hitler and Nazism’s German nationalism. Movements of nationalism are now closely associated with far-right ideologies.
Patriotism is sometimes seen as synonymous with nationalism, but being a patriot generally refers to an individual’s admiration and devotion to one’s country.
Just returned from France where much was accomplished in my meetings with World Leaders. Never easy bringing up the fact that the U.S. must be treated fairly, which it hasn’t, on both Military and Trade. We pay for LARGE portions of other countries military protection,……..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2018
…..hundreds of billions of dollars, for the great privilege of losing hundreds of billions of dollars with these same countries on trade. I told them that this situation cannot continue – It is, and always has been, ridiculously unfair to the United States. Massive amounts…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2018
…..of money spent on protecting other countries, and we get nothing but Trade Deficits and Losses. It is time that these very rich countries either pay the United States for its great military protection, or protect themselves…and Trade must be made FREE and FAIR!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2018
Globalism, by contrast, is the concept that countries are not isolated, separate entities in the world and international policies should be implemented in the interconnected global landscape. In an excerpt from Stephen Harper’s book, Right Here, Right Now: Politics and Leadership in the Age of Disruption, published in the National Post, the former Canadian prime minister expresses his disagreement with the globalist mindset, particularly a globalist’s “weak attachment to the nation-state” that they have a responsibility to as a citizen.
Macron’s comments on nationalism caused a flurry of debate on social media, both with regards to the French president’s specific comments and nationalism as a whole:
The speech today on the difference between patriotism and nationalism from Macron was long overdue— particularly when we reflect on the evils defeated in the last century.
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) November 11, 2018
French President #Macron took a shot a @realDonaldTrump saying
Nationalism is the opposite of and a betrayal of patriotism
He wasn't just rude, he's wrongProperly done, Nationalism is simply putting patriotism to work as a governing principle i.e. @AmericaFirst pic.twitter.com/oQesFq6Z7x
— Jim Hanson (@Uncle_Jimbo) November 12, 2018
I’m an American. I love my country. So I’m thankful for Emmanuel Macron who stuck it to Trump on the world stage by addressing the danger of nationalism & asserting the necessity of moral leadership. pic.twitter.com/ua1c6n47Q9
— Steven Beschloss (@StevenBeschloss) November 11, 2018
Macron just gave a speech saying nationalism is the enemy of true patriotism. Trump sat looking angry, not clapping. He is after all a nationalist by his own admission. And he is no patriot. He chooses his own comfort over fallen soldiers, party over country, enemy over ally.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) November 11, 2018
Another President of France, who differentiated between #Nationalism and #Patriotism a la #Macron . pic.twitter.com/24gYacuIOj
— Amit Dholakia (@Amit_Dholakia) November 12, 2018
That is not according to the definition. Nationalism and patriotism are fundamentally the same not the opposite!! Macron needs a dictionary or check out Wikipedia!!
— Patrick Millerd (@patrickmillerd) November 12, 2018
Macron shouldn’t have bashed nationalism to please his globalist chums. That was bad form, seeing how our President is so proud of being a nationalist.
— Kim Steere Bowman (@IsabeauMann) November 12, 2018
.@SteveHiltonx: "Macron's attack on President Trump was highly revealing. It lays bare the astonishing arrogance of the globalist ruling class who think it's their moral duty to ignore democracy…" #SteveSays #NextRevFNC pic.twitter.com/BnjVn0M3ut
— The Next Revolution (@NextRevFNC) November 12, 2018
