Foreign leaders treat Trump like a bully. Kansas senators, take note | Opinion
Most of us were taught early that to stop bullies you stand up to them. Bullies prey on the weak and afraid. When confronted with courage, bullies lose their power.
When President Donald Trump opens his toolbox, the only tool in it is a hammer. He needs power to succeed.
Bullying has worked for him with colleges dependent on federal funds. It’s worked on the media. ABC and CBS both caved under threats of being sued, and he took NPR’s federal funding. The Wall Street Journal has stood firm so far. Trump threatens to “primary” GOP legislators who get out of step with him, and so far it has worked on most. Recently-resigned U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is an exception, and it was telling when she revealed to “60 Minutes” that many Republicans talk negatively about the president behind his back — but only behind his back — because they are afraid of him. Bullying works on Israel and Ukraine too, because those nations are so dependent on U.S. support.
Who doesn’t his bullying work on? It doesn’t appear to work on Russian President Vladimir Putin. He shows no fear of our president, and as a result our president backs down from him. The same can be said of China’s Xi Jinping. Remember, bullies go after those they see as weak and afraid.
Let’s talk about Ukraine some more. Remember that embarrassing moment for the United States In February 2025 when our president and vice president attacked President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office? They really gave Zelenskyy the business — and he had to take it because he needs us in his war against Russia. It was a demonstration of bullying at its worst.
But wait: Do you remember Zelenskyy’s next visit to the White House? Several European leaders and officials, in a strong show of support, showed up with the Ukrainian president to keep Trump in check. Those who joined Zelenskyy at the White House included NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and leaders from the United Kingdom, Finland, France and Italy. And it worked.
And it has recently worked again in the case with Greenland. Trump rattled his saber, threatening to take the island from Denmark by force if necessary. Once again, many smaller and mid-sized countries stood in solidarity with Denmark against Trump. It was a good example of how we teach our children to respond when they see one of their classmates being bullied. As a result, Trump put away his saber and said he wouldn’t take Greenland by force.
Mark Leonard, the director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, made an interesting comment at Davos. He said he hoped that “Europeans will take the lesson of the last few days, that when they stand up for sovereignty and territorial integrity and these rules, they can defend them.”
I think there is a lesson there for our GOP legislators. I could reword Leonard’s statement to say Republicans can take a lesson from the last few days at Davos: that if they stand up together for the Constitution, the ideas of separation of powers, free speech and the rule of law, then together they can defend them.
Kansas Sens. Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran have fought against bullying before. Marshall stood against the Biden administration forcing vaccines on members of the armed services and Moran was key in the investigation of Facebook over cyberbullying. Those stands did not require courage. They were popular positions with their party.
If our senators stand up together for the Constitution, the ideas of separation of powers, free speech and the rule of law, then together they can defend them. I believe it would work because courage is kryptonite to bullies.
Mike Souder is a retired Army lieutenant colonel, manufacturing manager and educator. He lives in Prairie Village.