I am compelled to make a comparison between President Trump
and the new Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed. Anyway, I see many
similarities between these two accidental leaders of two countries of immense
significance on their own rights.
The
“Truth Telling” problem: Both Trump and Abiy have a big problem telling the
truth. They both create their own parallel universe to just make believe
whatever invented fact that may suit their narrative or action.
They both
have big issue with the learned community. Trump has always loved to bash
anyone who he thinks is more intelligent than him. Abiy, similarly, has been
witnessed lashing out at people that he thinks are better educated than him. They
both pretend to know more than the Generals themselves about military issues,
as was witnessed on a video lecturing Military experts like General Samora and
General SeAre. Trump has repeatedly claimed that he knows more about the
military than his own generals themselves-including the recent claim that he
would have been a “tremendous general”.
They both
like to talk trash about the time before they both came to leadership: “The
past 27 years of darkness” Abiy. “America has been ignored and used by others,
Make America Great Again (as if it never was)” Trump etc.….
They
both like (or try) to destroy any success that may remind people of the past
administration. Trump tried to get rid of Obama Care, and federal Environmental
Laws etc…And Abiy is doing everything possible to make sure any success
accomplished in the past 27 years are not even mentioned and, if he can, are
halted, including the GERD and the Federal System etc..
On the
other part, though, they both love to claim the success of their predecessors:
they both do not hesitate to claim and brag about the success accomplished
during their predecessors and love to own them. Trump thinks that the current
US Army was made formidable just during his presidency, when the truth is the
opposite. Or the economy is getting better; the stock market is skyrocketing
etc…when, in truth, all the progress started half way of Obama’s 1
st
term of his presidency. Abiy likes to boast giving tours (with a big smile) on
the Industrial Parks of any region constructed long before his premiership.
They
both love to be friends with whoever was the enemy of their predecessors: Trump
with Russia and Abiy with all that hated Meles Zenawi including Eritrea’s butcher
Esayas.
They
both love the attention of the media and the adulation. Their empty promise and
rhetoric to get the media attention is so cunningly similar. It looks like ours
learned a lot from the master of deceit-Trump. They would not hesitate to say
anything to just get any attention, or divert for that matter.
They
both like to lash out on journalists that ask tough questions. We all remember
the way Abiy answered questions during the only time he was truly
challenged-here in the US-by the true journalist Lulit and the guy who asked
him about the investigation over the death of Eng. Simegnih Bekele. Of course,
I would not have enough time to give you examples when Trump had lashed out on
journalist who asked tough questions.
