Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger spoke Sunday in Oslo at the Nobel Peace Prize forum about the upcoming Trump administration and warned critics to judge Trump on his policies, rather than his rhetoric.
He described Trump as “a personality for whom there is no precedent in modern American history.” Kissinger warned against judging Trump on his campaign rhetoric and said he was hopeful about the future: “I hope and believe that in the decades ahead, the United States will continue to fulfill its history and tradition of building world peace.”
“An opportunity should be given to the new administration to put forward its vision of international order,” he said.
HENRY KISSINGER: No doubt, the president-elect is a personality for whom there is no precedent in modern American history. And his campaign in cluded rhetorical elements challenging patterns heretofor considered traditional.
Before postulating an inevitable crisis, an opportunity should be given to the new administration to put forward its vision of international order.
The international debate should be over evolving American policy, not over campaign rhetoric. But the overriding quest for peace and stability has dominated every American presidential administration I have studied and known.
Many of the contemprary structures of peace have had either American support or American origin. I hope and believe that in the decades ahead, the United States will continue to fulfill its history and tradition of building world peace.
