Weak and decaying

'Weak' and 'decaying': Donald Trump gives withering verdict on European allies

The US president gave his bruising assessment of Europe's leadership, criticising them for immigration and failing to end the war in Ukraine.

Donald Trump's bruising assessment of Europe as "weak" and "decaying" is a bitter blow to nations already reeling from the release of his national security strategy.


Oh dear, 'a bitter blow' suggests they didn't know what has been obvious for years, Europe is weak and decaying. An aspect of it is that European elites won't admit and get to grips with it, but the first step is acquiring the moral strength to admit it. Won't happen though.


Life was a dark, insoluble mystery, but whatever it was, strength and weakness were its two constituents. Strength would win--weakness lose.

Theodore Dreiser - The Financier (1912)