Engaging with Trump

As Opposition MPs raised the tempo of protests in the Rajya Sabha, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu had this to ask: ‘You have more confidence in the American President than India’s Foreign Minister?’ External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had shortly before categorically denied every word said by President Trump as he sat with visiting Pakistan premier Imran Khan in the Oval Office. Prime Minister Modi, Parliament was told, never made any request for mediation on the Kashmir issue, as claimed by the US President, and the minister reiterated that Kashmir was, is and will remain a bilateral issue. All well taken, but it is too juicy a controversy, the government would agree, to easily let go of.

“We talked about this subject (in Japan) and he (PM Modi) actually said, ‘Would you like to be a mediator or arbitrator?’ I said, ‘Where?’ He said, ‘Kashmir.’” — President Trump’s straight-faced assertion created ripples in the subcontinent, as expected, but without any prodding by fact-checkers and before the MEA could react, the doubt-it encore was gaining ground. Did the President misinterpret what PM Modi said? Was he not briefed? Did he just come up with it? Nothing seemingly is beyond the realm of possibility when it comes to President Trump. There’s statecraft and there’s him, rewriting rules of engagement as he deems fit, howsoever unsettling and discomforting these could prove to be for friendly countries.

There’s not been a dull day during his tenure — a gaffe here, an insult there. Well versed, Washington’s insiders have been quick in their damage-control routine with New Delhi. A clarification may come in some form from the ‘leader of the free world’ himself. The New Yorker cartoon of a mother admonishing her child — ‘You will not use presidential language in this house’— could be taken in jest, but it does portray a serious problem. Just how do you engage with President Trump? You never know what you are going to get. For a start, don’t use the presidential language.