OPINION:
President Trump’s powerful stance against the Colombian president’s initial refusal to allow planes returning criminal illegal aliens to their country reminds me of President Reagan’s equally powerful stance against the leaders of the air traffic controllers union who engaged in an illegal work action.
Early in Reagan’s first term, leaders of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) called a strike. The 40th president held a press conference to warn them that this violated the law and gave controllers 48 hours to return to their jobs. After issuing his warning, Reagan fired more than 11,000 controllers who refused to cross the picket line.
The president’s order undoubtedly impacted domestic policy, but I firmly believe his actions sent a stronger message worldwide.
Author Joseph McCartin noted that the speaker of the House of Representatives, Tip O’Neill, later learned on a trip to the Kremlin that Soviet leaders were impressed with Reagan’s actions against the unions. Mr. McCartin mentioned that National Security Adviser Richard V. Allen called it “Reagan’s first foreign policy decision.”
Edmund Morris, Reagan’s official biographer, noted that the confrontation allowed the president to show foreign leaders that he was “a sheriff capable of swift hard action.” William Safire, one of the last conservative columnists of The New York Times, declared that Reagan’s actions gave him “a reputation for strength that enables him never to have to put it to the test.”
These things came to mind as Mr. Trump stood up to Colombian President Gustavo Petro. American officials sent two flights of illegal aliens from Colombia back to their country of origin as part of Mr. Trump’s deportation programs.
Initially, the Colombian president rejected the flights and said the United States could not “treat Colombian migrants as criminals.” Mr. Trump responded immediately and forcefully when he ordered a 25% tariff on all goods from Colombia to the United States. He further threatened that the tariff would rise to 50% after one week. He also ordered a travel ban and visa revocations for all Colombian government officials, their allies and supporters.
There is a new sheriff in town, and he is not going to take the kind of crap that President Biden allowed to happen during his tenure. Mr. Trump clarified his intentions by saying, “These measures are just the beginning. We will not allow the Colombian government to violate its legal obligations about the acceptance and return of the Criminals they forced into the United States!”
How about that for clarity? It also reminded me of when Reagan was asked about his strategy for dealing with the communist leaders in the Soviet Union. His answer was just as clear: “We win. They lose!” Reagan knew then what Mr. Trump knows today. The most important job of the president of the United States of America is to keep us safe.
As the leaders of the Soviet Empire eventually did, the Colombian president backed down. He even offered to use his plane to fly criminals back to his country. It was a FAFO moment (the PG version of that means Fool Around, Find Out).
Reagan labeled the Soviet Union the ‘Evil Empire,” called on their leader to “tear down this wall” at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and walked out on talks with the Soviet Union when it would not accept his Strategic Defense Initiative (the very system Mr. Trump is proposing in his version of an “Iron Dome” for America). His critics called him a cowboy who would get us into a third world war. Instead, he brought Americans the greatest period of peace and prosperity in modern history. It can happen again.
Minutes after Mr. Trump posted his reaction to the initial efforts to block flights into Colombia, his liberal critics started to complain that the price of coffee and flowers would go up. As if getting the types of criminals who killed Laken Riley out of our country isn’t worth a few cents on a $4.15 latte. How pathetic are these critics? And where were they over the past four years when their own spending policies drove prices through the roof?
Ultimately, no American had to sacrifice at Starbucks or the flower shop. Mr. Trump’s swift and forceful reaction led to the leader of Colombia quickly backing down that day. As Reagan noted, peace through strength works — including economic and military strength.
We are the most powerful country on the planet. It is about time we use our strength to protect our interests in the world. Thankfully, we have a president who is willing to use it to make America great again!
• Scott Walker is president of Young America’s Foundation and served as the 45th governor of Wisconsin.
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