From the Paris Agreement to the far right, through to the Middle East. Donald Trump's strategy laid bare in a lengthy interview with the New York Times.
United States president-elect Donald Trump gave a lengthy interview to the New York Times. The meeting had been accepted, then cancelled, then confirmed again by the American billionaire, and it ultimately took place on 22 November, in front of a table packed with journalists and editors from the American newspaper. From the cabinet to climate change, through to political positioning, the future occupant of the White House offered some indications of the strategy he will follow during his term.
One of the main issues addressed was that of climate change. Which, it seems, is no longer simply "a hoax", as Trump himself had previously described it. The new president declared that he would "keep an open mind" on the Paris Agreement. "I think there is some connectivity between human activity and climate change," he explained. "Something. But I want to find out how deep it is."
This represents a change of course in any case, provided, of course, that his intentions are borne out in practice, given that on several occasions Trump had stated he wanted to withdraw the United States from the very Agreement reached a year ago at the conclusion of Cop 21. In any case, the billionaire was keen to clarify that he would first check "how much this document will cost American businesses".
At the New York Times offices, Donald Trump then defended his adviser Stephen Bannon, who has been accused of harbouring racist tendencies. "If I had even the slightest doubt that he was, I wouldn't have chosen him," the American billionaire explained. Bannon nevertheless remains a particularly controversial figure, precisely because of his ties to the far right. Until recently, the future senior White House adviser owned the news portal Breitbart, which is also associated with extremist positions.
According to Trump, however, it is a news outlet like any other: "They do their job just like you do," he explained to the journalists of the New York publication. "Sure, it's a more conservative publication — to put it mildly — than the New York Times. But Breitbart has also become a popular media outlet."
Trump's strategy therefore appears to be one of wanting to distance himself from the far right. To that end, he condemned a group of demonstrators who last Saturday in Washington celebrated his presidential victory at a conference, complete with Nazi salutes. "I don't want to energise these people in any way," the American magnate declared. "I condemn their behaviour and if they are excited — by my victory, ed. — I want to understand why."
It is likely, however, that Ben Carson will also be called upon to join the new president's cabinet, as a secretary. He will probably be the appointee for "HUD" (Housing and Urban Development): "He's a man of great talent," Trump explained. Carson, a former neurosurgeon, is counted among those placed within the universe of America's ultra-conservatives.
Finally, on the subject of foreign policy, Trump stated that he would like to become "the man who brought peace between Israelis and Palestinians." So far, however, his proposal to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel has provoked decidedly negative reactions in Palestine. Furthermore, the task of seeking common ground between the parties will likely be entrusted to Jared Kushner, the president-elect's son-in-law. The challenge does not appear straightforward, given that he is an Orthodox Jew.