Even Machiavelli Wouldn’t Like Trump’s America

By Frank Bruni and Bret Stephens

Mr. Bruni is a contributing Opinion writer; Mr. Stephens is an Opinion columnist.

Frank Bruni: Canada, a previously close ally of ours with less than one-eighth of our population and less than one-tenth of our gross domestic product, just made clear that it won’t be bullied by us and has contempt for what we’ve become. Iran makes a daily mockery of our unhinged overlord’s immature predictions of a lickety-split war and premature declarations of an easy-peasy victory. Could President Trump, so obsessed with his potency, be making the United States look any weaker, Bret? Is he the pompous proof that the era of American dominance is done?

Bret Stephens: Wasn’t it Teddy Roosevelt who said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick”? Trump’s presidency, if not his whole life, amounts to an inversion of the phrase.

Frank: As you made wisely........

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