Trump and Putin – the Helsinki summit

Sir, – A foe is one who seeks to undermine America’s traditional allies through baseless criticisms. A foe is one who recklessly embraces the brutal adversaries of freedom and democracy. A foe is one who promotes economic policies which strike adversely at the nation’s premier industries. One who demands unquestioning loyalty, who dishonours truth, who holds himself as beyond the rule of law.

Donald Trump is the true measure of a foe to America. – Yours, etc,

DAN DONOVAN,

Dungarvan,

READ MORE

Co Waterford.

Sir, – Looking at the photograph of Mr Trump and Mr Putin by Yuri Kadobnov (Front Page, July 17th), which cat got the cream? – Yours, etc,

MICHELE SAVAGE,

Dublin 12.

Sir, – I see that the Russian president was late arriving at the summit. Presumably the wait was to enable his apparatchiks to attach the strings to Donald. – Yours, etc,

LIAM POWER,

Dundalk,Co Louth.

Sir, – Neville Chamberlain came back from Munich with a piece of paper. Donald Trump came back with a soccer ball. – Yours, etc,

MICHAEL ROONEY,

Knocknacarra,

Galway.

Sir, — Lewis Carroll, in Through the Looking Glass, could not have said it better in relation to the Helsinki "summit". "'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, 'it means what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less.' 'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.' 'The question is,' said Humpty, 'which is to be master – that's all.'" -– Yours, etc,

PATRICK JUDGE,

Dún Laoghaire,

Co Dublin,

Sir, – It was perhaps inevitable that Americans would elect someone like Donald Trump, who is presiding over the US as a chief executive would over a global corporation.

Although a surprise to many, it should not have been when one considers that the electorate are culturally taught to aspire to be someone like him (the “American dream”): one who has overcome all competition to become extremely wealthy and powerful.

In doing so, he may not have given much thought to those he has trodden underfoot. And, as previously with business competitors, now with countries (“foes”).

Britain is not far behind in its emulation, and it won’t be long before we too elect a PM who primarily governs, maybe not as a chief executive, but certainly as the chief spokesperson for UK corporations. Unless, of course, we decide that governments and corporations should be there to serve us, not we them. – Yours, etc,

GEOFF NAYLOR,

Winchester,

Hampshire, England.

Sir, – To “In God We Trust” can now be added “God Help America”. – Yours, etc,

JAMES DEENY,

Rathgar,

Dublin 6.

Sir, – Fair play to Melania for catching the ball but she missed a golden opportunity to give Donald the boot! – Yours, etc,

MARTIN CAHILL,

Castleknock,

Dublin 15.