The former US ambassador to Vienna, Trevor Traina, is an avid Trump supporter. In the ‘Krone’ interview he explains why the election of the new American president is also good news for Europe. He is sharply critical of his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden.
Trevor Traina was hardly surprised by Trump’s election victory. The former US ambassador to Vienna (2018 to 2021) is a staunch supporter of the Republican. In the “Krone” interview he says, “Trump took people’s concerns seriously, while Democrats ignored them. Harris simply focused on the wrong issues, like gender justice and climate change.”
Citizens wanted a change of course with a strong man
However, citizens are mainly concerned about high inflation and border security. This is also similar in Europe. “And people in the US really love Trump, he is a real superstar.” Voters have shown that they want a change of course, a strong leader who shows where things are going. Many workers in particular gave their votes to the right-wing populist party. “He’s reaching these people better than Harris,” Traina said.
“The country that put the first man on the moon couldn’t even bring its astronauts home this year,” Traina said. People want the ‘old America’ back, where anything is possible.
‘Trump doesn’t like dictators, but he talks to them’
According to Traina, the fact that many Europeans cannot understand the enthusiasm has more to do with the style of the politician than with his work. “No war started under Trump will be taken much more seriously by Trump than his predecessor. Because unlike Biden, Trump is not predictable. The former ambassador sees it differently that Trump is a friend of the Kremlin chief or Kim Jong-un: “He doesn’t like dictators. But he engages and talks to them.”
At the end of the first Trump administration, there were already clear warnings from the Republican that Russia was planning an invasion of Ukraine. But Biden reacted wrongly, provoked Putin and helped cause the war, the former diplomat criticizes.
Traina sees the elections as good news for Europe
Donald Trump, on the other hand, is not at all unpredictable when it comes to his economic policies. Lower taxes and deregulation would help the economy, but the Biden administration has taken the wrong path here. “Trump surrounds himself with nothing but business people. He cares a lot about the economy.” That was also an advantage in the election campaign, such as the support of Tesla billionaire Elon Musk.
A prosperous economy in the US is ultimately also good for Europe. The Biden administration has chosen the wrong path here. Trump has recognized that energy policy is critical. “Ultimately, energy security is just as important as military security,” the Republican said. Under Trump, the US even became a major oil exporter, but Biden countered this during his term in office.
The demand for a tariff of ten to twenty percent is also a tactic, the entrepreneur says in an interview: “In negotiations with the EU, he must also put something on the table.” Trump does not want to simply abandon the NATO countries. He only strives for a partnership on equal terms, in which other countries also contribute militarily. “Europe has nothing to be afraid of,” he summarizes.
Can Traina imagine returning as ambassador to Vienna? It is still too early for these speculations. The entrepreneur and multi-millionaire would like to take on a role again under the new Trump administration. He has taken Vienna and Austria to his heart: “I see more potential in Austria than many Austrians themselves.”
Trump as Bitcoin President
The busy businessman currently works as a crypto entrepreneur alongside ChatGPT founder Sam Altman and is rolling out the ‘Worldcoin’ project globally. When it comes to virtual currencies such as Bitcoin and Co., Trump is also likely to provide further impetus. On the night of his election, Bitcoin had already risen to an all-time high of $75,000.
The future head of government of the US sees himself as the Bitcoin president. Traina has already spoken to the politician about this personally: “I asked him: the US is the leader in so many tech industries, but why didn’t Trump understand that in the crypto industry and will create good regulations here,” he convinced entrepreneurs.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
