By Michael Gerson Michael Gerson Columnist Email Bio Follow Columnist April 1 at 5:15 PM There are times when President Trump manages to be so wrong — so empirically groundless, so logically fallacious, so stridently uninformed — that it seems like a form of parody. But more often than not, this reflects an authentic and alarming ignorance. The mask of a barroom political crank turns out to be the face of the president of the United States.
The reality of foreign assistance is very different. It is seldom given directly to foreign governments. The work is often contracted to nongovernmental organizations that work in partnership with locals. And it is generally designed to improve conditions within foreign countries that can give rise to global threats.
Imagine you had a child and lived in a country where children were raped with impunity. Wouldn’t a dangerous trek north to the United States make more sense? But this program and others like it are threatened by the president’s aid cutoff. In the real world of U.S. interests, we need more of these efforts to reduce the supply side of illegal migration. And the supply side of sexual trafficking. And of criminal gangs. And of the drug trade. And of illegal arms dealing.
Trump shows “alarming ignorance” when it comes to where his father was born! Dementia or pathological liar? Either way: 25th Amendment time.
How long has YOUR ignorance been showing? No Collusion. No evidence. What were you saying? TheGreatAwakening FactsMatter NowWeKnow Trump2020
Blue2019House Trump is alarmingly ignorant. I thought this was common knowledge.
Trump show amazing ignorance about everything he's dumb ,just very loud ,much like Henry Ford,dont say great.until you read Henry Ford's biography the original Hitler..as a fact, Ford radicalized Hitler antisemitic ideals and white exceptionalism.true if no Ford ,no Hitler
...and that makes foreign aid different from everything else how?
Сейчас шоу.
He is ignorance on many fronts.
Trump shows alarming ignorance period.
Exactly where does he not show alarming ignorance?
Ignorant and totally incompetent.
I don't see Trump giving Iran 150 billion for weapon's....oh ya that was your President Obama.
Wrong again keep hoping
He shows alarming ignorance on every subject that comes up. StableGenius
Headline could have stopped at the word ignorance.
American foreign policy going back decades has been incredibly ignorant.
Negative. He actually shows a willingness to engage issues where others are just along for the ride and a fat paycheck.
Alarming? You guys are still alarmed by this clown?
The whole world has gone crazy. But what has happened to the money that America has sent to help the people. I smell crap..
He always show his ignorance.
Opinion: The Washington Post and Socialist Democrats show alarming ignorance of the Constitution
well if it is so bad and the taxpayer keeps having to pay this money to these countries, why in the hell are they leaving to come to America, i support stop paying money to these countries. then maybe the political leaders in these countries will have to change there ways.
Chrisstto12 Why “alarming?” He shows an increasing amount of ignorance everyday! He is just an ignorant person!
As well as one of the main reason of the reemergence of ex-Nazi block as a force driving the Union in continental Europe.
Trump shows alarming ignorant when it comes to just about most topics
realDonaldTrump SecPompeo Trump is right, the money the foreign countries get don’t use it wisely for their poor people.They took the money&spent the money among themselves rather than to help their people not to leave their countries.Their fucking thieves
...and every damn thing else.
Really?
This headline is six words too long
Fill-in the blank: “Trump shows alarming ignorance when it comes to ________.”
you should have stopped at alarming ignorance!
Ya think... He hasn’t a clue about it
Wapo shows alarming ignorance when it comes to reporting.
Foreign aid to these countries isn't helping the U.S. Why fund them?
No I would not say that is ignorance towards foreign aid. He's putting America first we have people here in the United States who are need just as much as these foreign countries. It's time for these foreign countries to take care of their own
And everything else!
I know. Can you believe he wants to end air travel?!
Just to that? I think about everything else as well
Opinion: ignorance on just about everything concerning this country.
Not surprising. He shows ignorance in anything financial
IT'S NOT IGNORANCE. PLEASE STOP FINDING EXCUSED FOR HIM. He's trying to crash economy, trying to cause upheaval in Central America........anything to distract from Putin moving vs NATO in E.Europe, Ukraine.
He IS alarmingly ignorant! 🚨
Ignorance when it comes to anything!
WAPO showed alarming ignorance after the Mueller probe came out.
Washington Post as usual and expected shows disrespect for the POTUS.
He shows an alarming ignorance about his entire job as president and the governance of this country!!!
Blue2019House Trump is an old man in mental decline. Trump belongs in a nursing home, not the Whitehouse. All the people around him are piranhas,using him to further their evil agendas.
The people don’t get that money remember socialism
He shows alarming ignorance for pretty much everything
He's most likely trying to force change of course in these countries where they're at a status quo - like the saying goes, if you keep doing the same thing over and over . . .
When it comes to anything, let's face it.
Not ignorance. The foreign aid money we dumbly sent is channeled into Sorus controlled groups to fund the caravans. Trump knows and WE know. WWG1WGA POTUS
And it’s the dumbest News outlet reporting it. Yes you Washington Post!!
Lynn_Henning He shows alarming ignorance about everything.
Trump shows alarming ignorance about most important issues. America got played by a playa.
Noooo, you’re kidding?!? 🤣🤣🤣
Washington post sucks
He shows 'alarming ignorance' on a range of topics. Why are you still surprised?
His ignorance goes a lot further than foreign aid. Let’s face, he just plain dumb as a rick. Sorry rocks.
, they have been milking the American Taxpayers way to long.
Facts and ignorance are not the same.fact that Puerto Rico politicians squandered $ 91 billion in aide.ignorant to give more to squander .
When will WaPo learn it's lesson for spewing their Anti-America rhetoric? Hoping the Sandman lawsuit puts them out of business. EnemyOfThePeople
What’s new?🙄
WaPo shows alarming ignorance when it comes to public awareness of its true owners.
“Trump shows alarming ignorance put anything here ”
The Washington Post shows total ignorance in their journalism.
trump shows alarming ignorance when...HE OPENS HIS MOUTH! Resist
Opinion: Millions of Americans think The Washtoning Post shows ALARMING ignorance when it comes to journalism, facts and reporting.
Lynn_Henning Whoa! His ignorance knows no bounds
JoshMankiewicz Only when it comes to foreign aid? Ahh
WP is still baffled by Trump. Those countries will do something to negotiate the funding back. WP Trump crticisum half is about 30 seconds. A true journalist would would look at near and far effects and responses!
No kidding, among a myriad of other things. ' Repealing Obamacare Is Going to Be ‘So Easy’
JoshMankiewicz Shorten the headline & use this one daily ...Trump shows alarming ignorance....
JoshMankiewicz Really? Are we just figuring this out? 45 is ignorant of so much it is to numerous to count!
658 more days of this buffoon! Just another day in tRump country! GAH.
Trump shows alarming ignorance when it comes to anything and everything. Except being a rectal orifice. He is an expert at that.
CherKalleck You forgot the capitalize ALARMING IGNORANCE properly
Trump shows alarming stupidity when it comes to anything.
Not surprised when this was his response to foreign-policy.
realDonaldTrump shows alarming ignorance in everything
The Washington Post shows alarming ignorance when it comes to writing about President Trump. Trump derangement syndrome is real.
Laurie_David This is so hysterical. He shows remarkable ignorance with everything! The only thing he doesn’t is when it profits him and his crime family. TrumpCrimeFamily USForeignPolicy Immigration
yes he does
Trump shows alarming ignorance in everything that he does.
Don the Con is flying by the seat of his pants. People still suck up his lies and misrepresentations!
realDonaldTrump shows ignorance in any and every thing.
He shows alarming ignorance on EVERYTHING he speaks on
Only foreign aid?
Opinion: Perspective: Analysis: MAYBE YOU START WITH HATE PROPAGANDA
This is not alarming, it’s become the norm. He makes Bush 43 look like Einstein.
sterlingC69 And anything else
Excellent article with which Americans should agree. The idea has proven sound. Only Malignant Narcissist Lying Trump doesn’t get it - he loves to hurt people and cause injury which feeds his Narcissistic Supply.
Marilyn31682963 Trump is out of his League! End of story!
You could have stopped at “alarming ignorance”.
Trump doesn't CARE. President Trump is a zero-sum 'Leader'. Anything that doesn't benefit HIM is BAD.
Trump shows alarming ignorance when it comes to ___________________. (We’ve been filling in the blank for the last two years.)
You could have just ended the headline with “Donald Trump shows alarming ignorance”
Hmm that sentence was too long. Just “Trump shows alarming ignorance “ is enough.
You can leave off the “when it comes to foreign aid” part.
“Trump shows alarming ignorance on FILL IN THE BLANK”.
Just foreign aid?
Real news
And you show blatant ignorance by being Fake News
Trump shows alarming ignorance—that suffices as an all purpose and entirely applicable headline.
Duh!
My opinion is The Washington Post is alarmingly Ignorant
Trump shows alarming ignorance at everything. This is not news!
Actually I appreciate realDonaldTrump using foreign aid money for Americans. AmericaFirst MAGA
And we should be surprised by this revelation?
You can just substitute “Pelosi” and/or “Schumer” for Trump and you got it right!
To go along with his ignorance of the economy, insurance,infrastructure,the military and more
Or, he did what he intended to do: hurt brown people and keep immigrants coming to our border. Feeding his base and his racism.
Don't hold it against him. He's only following orders.
In all areas he’s proven his ignorance
And this is a surprise?
Ya think!!
Is there anything he doesn't have alarming ignorance about?
I can’t understand why anyone thinks this man knows what he is doing as a president. He reacts with anger he doesn’t think what it really will do to our economy or relations to other countries. The man thinks like a toddler.
Tweeted April 26, 2016:
He has shown his complete ignorance since he started this New Career of Politics
His alarming ignorance is surpassed only by his terrifying certainty.
realDonaldTrump Shows Alarming Ignorance Of Anything That Is Real
Opinion: The Washington Post is a propaganda rag.
True
trump shows 'alarming ignorance' when it comes to every damn thing!
He’s ignorant period!
Trump has this one right. Taxpayers shouldn't be paying on both ends. We send them money and they send us more people to care for.
You could have stopped at 'Trump shows alarming ignorance.'
No, he shows the right amount of intelligence. America loses too much money every year in foreign aid. Countries need to take care of themselves.
Fake news. WP SHOWS ALARMING IGNORANCE, PERIOD.
Trump shows alarming ignorance on a daily basis. If journalists asked real questions his answers would show it much more blatantly.
Foreign aid is a waste of money. America has been pouring money into these countries and what has been the result? Corrupt politicians live well, and the citizens starve.
The left has used American tax dollars to prop up leftist regimes all over the world. Trump is cutting aid to countries that are unloading their populations in our country. Bravo
And everything else.
WP shows their total ignorence with their stupid trouble making comments!! WP has no class at all!! All rift raft and it shines!!
I can't say much, She's on my vine. That's ok, I'll look on the bright side at least she gave me a good job.
That's not the only area he shows alarming ignorance.
Fill in the blank: Trump shows alarming ignorance when it comes to _______.(Dozens of possible responses.)
More than just foreign aid. He’s just ignorant period
Uhhh... coulda saved some tweet space with, “realDonaldTrump shows alarming ignorance”...jus’ sayin’.
*Not* an opinion. Also, *not* news.
It should read, “Trump shows alarming ignorance when it comes to being President of the United States”, period. He’s a dumb 🥜
I disagree. They have a vision but it isn;t the same as yours or mine. He is empowered and he will steamroll the alt-right's agenda.
Keep it at Trump is ignorant and you’ll be fine. CNN nytimes StephenAtHome FallonTonight TIME WSJPolitics Newsweek CTmagazine
Ignorance is your 24/7 criticism of the President. So tired of your BS ...
In “Soros on Globalization” Soros himself wrote that foreign aid almost never reaches the people who actually need it. Was he lying?
Trump shows alarming ignorance period.
Only foreign aid?
You’re alarmed at his ignorance? And you think this is the only subject he’s ignorant about?
Trump shows that the foreign aid can be used as a leverage in relationships with the foreign countries! What is wrong with that?
He is not a politician... He relies on his cabinet for decisions related to foreign aid
I don’t understand why the word alarming is even necessary 🙄
MOST things!
That's because he is ignorant
He is ignorant. It's been alarming for more than 2 years.
and everything else— I mean, really- what doesn’t trump show alarming ignorance about
Shows alarming ignorance about every single thing in the universe
Wapo shows alarming ignorance of the foreign aid scam to enrich politicians!
IF TRUMP CLOSES MEXICAN BORDER, US WILL LOSE $200 BILLION IN ECONOMIC TRADE DOLLARS---WORST THAN CLOSING THE US GOVT DOWN
Washington Post shows alarming fake news
When doesn't the SOB?
Washington Post is garbage full of Conspiracy Theorists who believe Donald Trump colluded with the Russians, and defended corrupt politicians, government officials, and members of the previous administration who actively spied on the President elect.
You misspelled 'everything' 😂
It’s not ignorance. The cruelty is designed to manufacture a much bigger problem so that he can get his wall or declare a state of emergency or both.
😂😂😂😂 you guys make it sound as if he doesn’t show alarm ignorance when it comes to everything else 😂😂😂😂 Alarming ignorance is ALL the Orange Conman has to offer, haven’t you caught on yet?
😂😂😂 Trump won't even need to run an electoral campaign! Please, never stop! 😂
WaPo fake news is unlimited in scope!
Foreign aide? He shows alarming ignorance on a daily basis.
Hey Michael, try getting a real job at a real news organization.
BeeBestest Here’s a way to save time: “tRUmp Displays Leadership and a True Sense of Compassion.”
Ok, Captain Obvious...
'I’ve seen a lot of bad deals in my life, but this Constitution is a total mess... We need to tear it up and start over.' Trump Vs the Constitution Seems in safe hands, eh?
BeeBestest No way, ya don’t say ?🤦🏼♂️what’s new
Trump is ignorant
Those gay gestures ....with lil chubby fingers.
Says the newspaper who peddled known falsehoods and flat out lies for two years. For supposedly not knowing much, he sure is doing a great job despite the constant attacks by the corrupt cabal.
He shows incredible ignorance about everything.
You had me at “Trump shows alarming ignorance.”
Insulting the President again? WP is the DNC.
Trump shows alarming ignore when it comes to anything other than corruption, grifting and being a con man.
michikokakutani Only on foreign aid? Surprising.
Trump shows alarming ignorance, period
Any new pictures of Bezos?
Tell me what area trump shows to have any knowledge about, at all!
Your headline could have been simplified to “Trump shows alarming ignorance “
I spent a dollar on this incoherent opinion. Money well spent to know how leftists think. Did the author think of those raped or died by their journey? Did he think about the government doing what they're supposed to do (protecting their ppl)instead of socialized spending?
Everything *
Trump shows alarming ignorance when it comes to_______(so many options)
He shows alarming ignorance in each and every arena. His only area of expertise seems to be grift.
Ding! Ding! He's BEEN this ignorant and incompetent from day one!
Lol who cares fake news 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Opions dont matter. Facts matter.
'Trump shows alarming ignorance when it comes to'... everything.
I think you can just stop the sentence at “Trump shows alarming ignorance.”
Opinion: Trump shows alarming ignorance in everything he does especially as the President if the free world. A 10 year old could do a better job.
You don't need to put 'when it comes to foreign aid' in order to make the point clear. Concise diction is the queen of effective writing.
realDonaldTrump No, he demonstrates his ignorance all the time! But he’s a great prevaricator! BBCWorld cnni politico nytimes Salon nytimes Slate billmaher Lawrence MotherJones tictoc MMFlint thinkprogress
You did not need the last 6 words of that title.
It’s no longer “alarming”. It’s expected. He never disappoints.
michikokakutani He shows alarming ignorance about everything, except stirring up anger and hate.
In Opinion: This is not ignorance, but ABUSE of Power, and Counting.
Yes 'Donald J Trump' shows a lot of ignorance period. Wish somebody would change that diaper of his because there's a lot of shit in it.
realDonaldTrump has always been a believer in Charity Begins At Home ! His base would agree and no doubt a few others in this age of MeFirst
What did you expect? The man is ignorant, intellectually lazy, unprepared and an unqualified self professed genius based on his malignant out of control narcissism.
He shows alarming ignorance of EVERYTHING. This is no longer “news”.
He's been showing 'alarming ignorance' since the '70's. What's new? ShitholePresident
'Trump shows alarming ignorance.' Fixed that for you.
No, no he does not. He shows common sense, period. MAGA2X
Trump shows alarming ignorance.
theresamax He shows “alarming ignorance” about everything.
Just when it comes to foreign aid? 😬
FACT
NOW ppl are alarmed? So were they previously operating under the (flawed) impression that Trump had a single clue about conducting effective foreign policy but lately they’re alarmed? Please. He is exactly the fumbling, gritfting, inept fool he campaigned as.
Really As opposed to the Wapo foreign policy chops?
The headline should be, 'Trump shows alarming ignorance' It's shorter, accurate and saves time.
Opinion: Wapo shows alarming ignorance when it comes to real journalism
He wouldn't know a Berlin airlift from a whole in the wall. I won't even bring up the Marshall Plan.
T_A_R_Systems Mama always said you get more with honey than you do with vinegar . Foreign aid sounds like a curse word coming out of Trumps foul mouth .
You can delete everything including and after the word 'when'
Do you ever get tired of writing fiction instead of actually reporting?
Trump shows alarming ignorance,
Trump shows alarming ignorance on pretty much everything.
That should read: “trump shows alarming ignorance”
when it comes to.. EVERYTHING
U show ignorance Washington post
No shit!
No kidding...
Strangely... you call yourself news
a THATS WHAT HE HAS ADVISORS FOR HELL OBAMA WAS TERRIBLE AT ITCAS WELL BUT I DONT HEAR YOU CRUCIFYING HIM!!!!
He shows alarming ignorance to everything!!
Foreign aid costs very little and the benefits for global security are huge. We should be giving more aid, not less.
When hasn’t Trump showed his ignorance about EVERYTHING EVERY SINGLE DAY!!
WP Opinion: Trump shows alarming ignorance when it comes to foreign aid. Ignorance;i ignorance is a lack of knowledge. The word ignorant describes a person in the state of being unaware, who deliberately ignore or disregard important Like Mexico and the WP.
And every other thing he's so positive he knows about.
He shows ignorance in all areas
They could have ended the headline after the word ignorance.
...and every other topic of significance.
Fact: Wapo shows alarming ignorance when it comes to journalism. Covington $250M!
Shocking.
Washington Post what is this business of Foreign Aid is there a American Aid for American people I think not!
Donald Trump is doing what too many previous presidents failed to do... show leadership & make decisions.
What?! When it comes to ANYTHING, FFS.
Correction... Trump shows alarming ignorance when it comes to being the President of the United States of America. Apologies
He doesn't know what aids, donation and help means.. I bet, even when he was private citizen before, he didn't share a penny to the needies..
He doesn't even look at the people in other countries as human beings. This is all one big game of Monopoly for realDonaldTrump. I'm sure everyone who is advising him would agree that he is unfit to be president. I just don't understand why they haven't removed him from office.
Bs. He’s right on target
Where have you been?
FakeNews is alarmingly ignorant when it comes to collusion delusion, and other ridiculousbullschiff
Opinion: Trump shows a profundity ignorance when it comes to, well, everything! For instance, on the subject of U.S. foreign aid.....his hotels foreign maids probably have a better grasp of the concepts.
How is this news?
Trump shows alarming ignorance daily he’s dumb that’s why his daddy bought him through school only thing he knows about foreign aid are how can I make money with this dictator
In trumps defense is not “alarming ignorance” is just an simple total ignorance!
Trump shows alarming ignorance.
He shows alarming ignorance in almost everything he does
Everything. Literally everything. He shows alarming ignorance when it comes to *everything*.
And everything else.
One cannot but Laugh at this pathetic Paper shooting everything down about Trump....soon the Post will have to eat its words....Just like on ElectionDay
Just on foreign aid?
You need to stop spending other People’s Money
He has incredible ignorance on almost everything. Bottom line, he is a national security risk to our country.
Obama never had these nasty attitudes when he was in power this is what u all voted for oh my that’s really bad.
Only foreign aid 🧐
Trump shows alarming ignorance. I fixed it for you. Also, it’s two years late.
If it was a black man what would be taking place right now?
As oer you, bias, dishones, the washington post, trump does not show kniwledge in anything.
WaPo shows alarming ignorance of Trump Russia 'collusion'. For 2 years. 2. Ignorance, the whole time. Did I mention Wapo's ignorance?
Now come on! When has Trump shown anything but ignorance on any topic?!?
This is why Trump will not do a sit down interview with the real press (Non-Foxnews). *He's afraid of real questions. *He'll be exposed for the Dumbazz that he is.
Alarming ignorance, or INTENT?
I'd like to know why him and several of the like are doing this hand sign... Really, This needs to be stopped... Not ok...
We really need an opinion article to tell us that?
When....it comes to just about everything..
You could've just ended the sentence after 'ignorance.'
Foreign Aid? He’s surprisingly ignorant on so many things.
MichaelGerson it would be easier to make a list of things he wasn't ignorant of.
Now..drumpfs ignorance is ALARMING!!!!! Kinda slow on FACTS huh..Lol LaBelle50 hwmnylx69
Bullshit article Trump doesn't need communist Democrat scammers using the humanitarian assistance program to smuggle drugs, weapons and ammunition and human trafficking and organ harvesting
Trump shows alarming ignorance when it comes to ________ .
“Trump shows alarming ignorance” There. Fixed it for you
Opinion: shows alarming ignorance when it comes to honest objective reporting...there...fixed it
Or when it comes to... anything at all really
Let me fix that for you: 'trump shows alarming ignorance.'
Trump shows alarming ignorance when it comes to ________.
How about making this even simpler. Name me one facet of life he isn’t alarmingly ignorant?
You could exchange 'foreign aid' with so many other topics.
He shows ignorance when it comes to band-aids, let's be clear.
Shows quite a bit oh ignorance in many fields
He shows ajarming ignorance about *everything*, but hey, ignorance is the trait he and his voters share in spades.
Surprise
You mean a inexperienced reality TV star knows nothing about foreign aid?
He is holding rope but it has so much grease on it, slips out repeatedly, what to do
Trump shows alarming ignorance always.
The idiot president shows a lack of knowledge about something else, what a surprise.
Don't say nothing to me about foreign aid Washington post. Yellow journalist pigs!
Yeah we should make an amendment to prevent realDonaldTrump from being reelected
Trump:
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: Newsweek - 🏆 468. / 52 Read more »
Source: politico - 🏆 381. / 59 Read more »
Source: Newsweek - 🏆 468. / 52 Read more »
Source: politico - 🏆 381. / 59 Read more »
Source: WSJ - 🏆 98. / 63 Read more »
Opinion | The speech Trump should have given after the Mueller report droppedOpinion: The speech Trump should have given after the Mueller report dropped LoL Opinion: The retraction Wapo should have written
Source: washingtonpost - 🏆 95. / 72 Read more »
Opinion | Trump should come with a warning labelA scandalous reputation somehow protects the president from scandals while denying him credibility and respect. And an expiration date 3 years too late but ok What? Toxic?
Source: washingtonpost - 🏆 95. / 72 Read more »
Source: Newsweek - 🏆 468. / 52 Read more »
Opinion | Is Venezuela where Trump finally stands up to Putin?The United States and Russia have taken opposing, incompatible stands on this issue. He's more tough on him than Obama... No. No
Source: washingtonpost - 🏆 95. / 72 Read more »