Iran Daily | Hossein Ziaee:  Undoubtedly, former US president Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) could be called the “spiritual father” of Donald Trump.

Reagan was known for his aggressive policies against the enemies of the US and the West. Hence, some experts believe his policies contributed to the collapse of the former Soviet Union. The phrase “Evil Empire” was first applied to the Soviet Union in 1983 by Reagan.

Reagan is also blamed for provoking Iraq to invade Iran. In fact, his all-out support emboldened former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to attack Iran, a war that began in 1980 and lasted for eight years.

Inspired by such a warmongering stance, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered an anti-Iran speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library a week ago.  He choose this place, upon an order by the Trump administration, to convey particular messages.

A comparison between America’s domestic and international political conditions in the 1980s when a bipolar system was dominant and its present conditions as well as the differences between Reaganism in that period of time and Trumpism in the current situation shows that the Trump administration’s attempt to copy Reagan’s approach against Iran is a “political caricature” rather than an efficient role model.

Reagan, who played the role of the leader of the West in defending “liberal democracy,” launched the toughest economic and political attacks against the former Soviet Union. Nonetheless, Trump is regarded as the most isolated US leader in the West since the Second World War. This is because of his efforts to dismantle the world order, in particular, liberal democracy and hoist the flag of right-wing extremism.

Likewise, Reagan was a symbol of unifying civil, political and security systems in the US, whereas Trump has created discord among these systems due to his racist and fascist policies.

Furthermore, Reaganism was dependent on America’s strong economic and military situation. However, Trump threatens the Western, Asian and Arab allies of the US to push them to pay for the costs of America’s military which has seen a substantial erosion in its clout across the globe.

Moreover, in the bipolar world in the 1980s, all countries had to back US imperialistic policies. Today, the US is the most isolated country since World War II.

US political leaders and thinkers feel ashamed that their country has only two supporters: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

In fact, Israel and Saudi Arabia have taken possession of the White House and occupied it. These two regimes pay a rent for the White House in the form of “dollar bribes”. In other words, the US foreign policy is governed on “rental” income.

Besides, Reagan was a president with so-called civilized Western values. Trump, however, is the symbol of moral, political and economic corruption who has been labeled as the most corrupt president in US history.

On the whole, as a “Twitter” and “pre-purchased” president with the most bellicose policies in US history, Trump is regarded as a leader whose term will soon expire. The US political establishment should adopt a smart and creative approach to cushion the harmful effects of Trump’s unwise policies.

*Hossein Ziaee is an Iranian journalist based in Germany.