I saw an news alert saying that the 747 that Qatar gave to Trump will be ready this Summer. I’m surprised, but whatever. Trump and his cabinet have decided that they all need to be treated like kings, princes and princesses, which is both completely disgusting and out of step with the mood of the public in most countries. I have receipts.
First, Mexico. La Presidenta flew coach to Barcelona this weekend to attend a conference there. She waited in line with everyone else to board, and worked during the trip. This is the second time she’s done that, the first was for the G7 meeting in Canada. Of course, it was well-documented on her social media [Instagram link].
AMLO, Claudia’s predecessor, didn’t leave Mexico at all during his six year term. AMLO also sold the 787 purchased by President Felipe Calderon as a Presidential aircraft. AMLO’s comment when it was sold: "We are like the nouveau riche, who buy a yacht or an airplane like this, and are only happy the day they launch it and the day they sell it."
Lest you think that Mexico is the only North American country like this, Doug Ford, Premier (governor) of Ontario stepped in it when his government purchased a private jet for him to travel around the province. A few days after the purchase was publicized, on the heels of a massive backlash, he’s selling the plane as quickly as possible.
Canada’s attitude towards its leaders’ accommodations is what I’d characterize as “cheap” — there’s been a multi-year controversy about where the Canadian Prime Minister should live. The traditional residence for the PM, 24 Sussex, was in such a state of decay that Justin Trudeau wouldn’t live there — he lived in Rideau Cottage instead. 24 Sussex sits in disrepair, full of rats and ratshit, while Parliament argues over spending the $30 million (US) that it will probably take to renovate and upgrade it.
Justin Trudeau (far right) with his brothers Michel (RIP) and Alexandre (Sasha) and their dad, Pierre, at 24 Sussex, when it was still inhabitable.
It’s no coincidence that Claudia’s modest trip was to a “Defense of Democracy” summit in Barcelona — a true democracy doesn’t need to treat its leaders like kings. Superpower though we may be, things have gotten pretty out of hand with the way we treat our leadership. JD Vance took 14 planes to the Olympics, and he and his entourage used 100 cars.
AMLO was, and Claudia is, trying to transform Mexico. If we have a transformational leader, he or she needs to act more like Canadians or Mexicans than the MAGA chumps we have in charge. I’m not saying they need to fly commercial, but their cabinet doesn’t need to live on military bases and buy themselves private jets either.
