SPOTLIGHT: WORLD, MEET MR. TRUMP (AGAIN)
Every four years, people around the world get a glance at those odd political spectacles, typically hosted in some mid-sized American city they'll never visit. The U.S. national party conventions tend to get slightly bemused coverage abroad: candidates' family values on full display, gray-haired delegates dancing to Dixie bands and far too many balloons for something as serious as choosing what's still sometimes called the leader du monde libre.
This week, the circus became frighteningly real for that free world. The Republican Party officially nominated Donald Trump yesterday as its presidential candidate. The nominee's children painted a picture of their billionaire father as a champion for the working man, and Trump himself offered a rather tame (and scripted!) few words by video conference. But amid all the staging and self-congratulation, we should not forget that in the past 12 months, Trump has called for a blanket ban on all Muslims entering the U.S., described Mexicans as "rapists" and called Belgium a city. And more.
But now a new phase has begun in what has been an ever eventful American campaign season amid an ever troubling world. Will Trump, who makes his acceptance speech tomorrow night, try to reassure undecided voters with a more statesman-like approach? Or will he double down on the fear-mongering and vitriol in attacking his Democratic party opponent Hillary Clinton? A world that does indeed still look to America for leadership — and entertainment — will certainly be watching.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR TODAY
- $130 billion mega merger between chemical giants Dow and DuPont.
- New UK PM Theresa May to face Parliament for first time. May will then head to Berlin to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
- Day 3 of Republican Convention. Scheduled speakers include Ted Cruz and Trump's vice-presidential running mate Mike Pence.