Donald Trump breaks norms almost with every breath, damaging the nation and humanity, undermining humanity’s future along the way.

Trump’s kakistocracy is filled with those who are as disdainful of such norms.

Trump’s (sigh, the “U.S.”) Ambassador to Germany, Rick Grenell has shown from his first moments in Berlin a willingness to break norms no matter their level of import in diplomacy. He, publicly, asserted that German firms should not fulfill contracts with Iran as Trump recklessly withdrew from the Iran deal. The Washington Post headline appropriately captures the situation:

That offense is nothing compared to the latest.

In a Breitbart interview (sorry, no direct link to that propaganda outfit), Grenell has asserted that he will work to get extremists elected in Europe —

“There are a lot of conservatives throughout Europe who have contacted me to say they are feeling there is a resurgence going on.” “I absolutely want to empower other conservatives throughout Europe, other leaders.

In other words, Grenell is stating bluntly his political preferences in the internal politics of allied nations — including the one he is (Trump’s) Ambassador to — and (strongly/clearly) indicating that he will work to get those preferred people into power.

x Dear EU:



Watch "Ambassador" Grenell closely -- he admits he's trying to undermine your governments.https://t.co/tEEGoctGzH — John Schindler (@20committee) June 3, 2018

There are strong indications that Europe leaders are now consider Donald Trump and the reckless nature of his governance their gravest near term threat — ahead of Putin, ahead of refugee flows, ahead of climate change — and the question becomes what might they do about that.

x Turns out that the most critical issue for EU today isnÃ¢ÂÂt a Russia policy, but a Trump policy. That might well be the number one foreign policy challenge we face at the moment. #LMC2018 — Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) June 2, 2018

When faced with an Ambassador who so bluntly violates norms about not interfering in domestic affairs, Germany faces just a few options

Silence in outrage … knowing it will get worse

Behind the scenes signaling … knowing it will continue and likely worsen

A public dressing down … with a hope that will be enough

Declaring Grenell persona non grata … with a statement that enough is enough

The salami strategy Trump is pursuing is carving up American democracy and rule of law one piece at a time. Every little action violating norms doesn’t seem to the time to use the nuclear option … to slam the hammer down … yet inaction opens the door to yet another norm being undermined. Grenell’s statement was a major violation of diplomatic norms … what will Germany do with Trump’s Ambassador?