World-class stupidity

Fresh off a 5-0 primary romp, Donald Trump — self-described GOP “presumptive frontrunner” — unveiled what was supposed to be a “serious” foreign-policy address, quite unlike his typical off-the-topof-the-head ramblings. Feel free to start laughing, and then to plunge into depression that, despite best efforts, this man who could become commander in chief maintained his standing as a vacuous ignoramus.

Trump’s 40-minute speech lived down to expectations, and then some. His nostrums for the world stage were incoherent, internally inconsistent and ultimately dangerous.

Trump declared that “We must, as a nation, be more unpredictable.” He was talking about the fight against ISIS, but the phrase was both meaningless and a perfect encapsulation of just about all things Trump.

“America first,” Trump asserted, will be his “major and overriding” guiding principle, as if he had discharged intellectual lightning new to the Oval Office.

At the same time, he also pledged that America “will always help to save lives and, indeed, humanity itself.”

Humanity itself? Never accuse the Donald of dreaming small. Then again, strike from the membership list of humanity the millions of refugees who have fled the wars in Syria and Iraq, whom Trump would abandon.

Ever certain of magical brilliance, Trump said he’s the man to take on Vladimir Putin: “Some say the Russians won’t be reasonable. I intend to find out.”

So, after a Putin-led invasion of Crimea, intervention in Syria, de facto aiding of ISIS and interfering in the Baltic Sea, Trump wonders whether Russia will be “reasonable”? Sarah Palin made more sense. Trump bemoaned that “our friends are beginning to think they can’t depend on us.” Well, then, their opinions will surely soar when President Trump rips up trade agreements — like NAFTA — he deems no longer in the U.S. “core interest.”

So, too, if Trump follows through and upends NATO, the nation’s strongest alliance?

Speaking of trade, Trump declares that “fixing our relations with China” will be a priority.

That somehow includes threats of tariffs while twisting Beijing’s arm to get it to exert control over North Korea. Huh? True enough, President Obama’s foreign policy has often been unsteady amid increasingly chaotic international events.

That’s precisely why America’s next commander in chief must have a sure hand to guide the ship of state. Donald Trump? The captain of the Titanic would do a better job.