Bully Trump backs down and we should all rejoice

But this week, I think and hope, we've got to know for sure that the President of the United States of America is unhinged.

In Davos, he confused Iceland with Greenland: "Our stock market took the first dip yesterday because of Iceland," he said.

And there was that letter to the president of Norway in which he said, "Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace."

Apart from the odd (childlike) capitals, the idea that the world's most powerful man could put a lower priority on peace because of a perceived personal snub displays true derangement.

There was also the revelation from his own mouth that he slapped extra tariffs on Switzerland because its president annoyed him: she "just rubbed me the wrong way, I'll be honest with you," as he actually put it.

Oddly, I take heart from all this. It's the sense of relief you feel when everyone in the family realises that something really must be done about grandpa. He really isn't safe to drive.

It is now obvious to anyone but the sycophants and cultists that Mr Trump is unhinged.

There was a theory that he ducked and dived, that he was a great deal-maker. Those who couldn't see his genius were sneered at for "Trump Derangement Syndrome". It is clear now that the only person with the syndrome is the man himself.

We started the week in deep despair. Mr Trump was threatening to "get" Greenland by any means, military if necessary. We end the week with him having backed down.

An attack by one NATO ally on another would have smashed the alliance which has helped keep Australia safe, even though Australia is not a member.

The end of NATO would have emboldened Russia to put relentless pressure on Poland. China would contemplate whether now, in the current Trumpian disarray, was the time to invade Taiwan.

But we end the week with NATO intact and the bully backing down, as bullies sometimes do when confronted.

The heroes of the moment are the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. "Canadians know that our old, comfortable assumption that our geography and alliance memberships automatically conferred prosperity and security is no longer valid," he said.

He didn't mention Mr Trump but everybody in the standing ovation knew what he meant - we can't rely on America anymore. We, the middle nations, have to make our own alliances. Middle nations like Australia?

The other hero is the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, who warned against a "new imperialism", declaring that Europe would not give in to bullies.

It wasn't just the speeches which bumped the bully on the nose. As Mr Trump got more threatening, share prices fell steeply.

Once a bully shows weakness, it is to be hoped that others might feel emboldened.

It would be nice to think that Republicans on Capitol Hill will find some backbone. And might the Republican- dominated Supreme Court finally say no to the great leader?

In Britain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer toughened his stance after pressure from his own party. The British policy was to suck up to the President. The King was enlisted to entertain Mr Trump on a state visit.

But Sir Keir has now manned up. One unidentified minister told the BBC: "In five years' time will we look back at this approach and see it as appeasement? See it as a massive error?"

Anybody heard a peep out of Albo recently?

Happy Australia Day.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Should Australia try to keep America sweet? Can we trust America? What do you think of Mr Trump? Write to echidna@theechidna.com.au.

SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

- President Donald Trump has said he no longer planned to impose tariffs on European countries that had opposed his ambitions for the US to acquire Greenland. Earlier, he said in Davos that he would not use military force to secure ownership of the territory.

- Nationals leader David Littleproud declared a Coalition split after a late-night mass exodus from the opposition front bench. He and the eight members of his party still on Opposition Leader Sussan Ley's frontbench handed in their resignations after a crisis meeting on Wednesday night.

- People were missing after a tropical storm brought huge rainfall to the top of New Zealand. A landslip on Thursday morning at a campground in tourist hotspot Mount Maunganui left "several people" unaccounted for, according to NZ Police.

THEY SAID IT: "On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron." - H. L. Mencken.

YOU SAID IT: John Hanscombe opined on the contortions of the federal opposition, and the way it all seemed to have gone awry for its leader Sussan Ley. Some of you weren't impressed with either major party.

Jennifer said: "Both leaders failed miserably in serving our nation and democracy! They continue to do so as they focus on political gains, not the future of Australia and all citizens."

Peter said: "A strong democracy requires both a strong government and a strong opposition. At present we have a dominant centre-right party (ALP), a too-small left-wing party (Greens) and a bunch of bumbling incompetents who don't know what they stand for, with the far right waiting to step into control. It's an unhealthy situation.

Pete asked, "Who came out of the Bondi kerfuffle worse off?" He answered his own question: "Neither Ley nor Albanese, but Australia collectively. Our so-called 'leaders' abandoned good governance and social cohesion for the sake of cheap political gain, and we are all the poorer for it."