Dalai Lama: ‘America First’ Direction Under Trump Sounds ‘Not Very Nice’
- 7 years ago
The Dalai Lama is voicing his concerns about the “selfish” and “nationalistic” direction the U.S. has taken since President Trump took office.
The Dalai Lama is voicing his concerns about the “selfish” and “nationalistic” direction the U.S. has taken since President Trump took office.
“Your ancestors really considered the importance of liberty, freedom, democracy, these things," he told Washington Post's Josh Rogin during a recent event in India. "The present president, in the very beginning he mentioned ‘America first.’ That sounded in my ear not very nice.”
In fact, the Tibetan spiritual leader said in an interview with Sky News last month that this approach makes him feel “sad.”
“America, we consider [the] leading nation of [the] free world. America, it should take a global responsibility. And the reality [is], America is part of the world….[If] America is isolated from the rest of the world, America will suffer,” he added.
At the Indian event, he also called out Trump’s lack of commitment to environmental issues, telling event attendees, “on that, I feel some reservation.”
Trump and the Dalai Lama have not yet met in person, though a U.S. lawmaker has reportedly suggested such a meeting take place, according to The Hill.
However, there has been speculation that one reason the president may be holding off, at least for now, is because he does not want to anger China--which has a conflicted history with Tibet--amid rising tensions with North Korea.
The Dalai Lama is voicing his concerns about the “selfish” and “nationalistic” direction the U.S. has taken since President Trump took office.
“Your ancestors really considered the importance of liberty, freedom, democracy, these things," he told Washington Post's Josh Rogin during a recent event in India. "The present president, in the very beginning he mentioned ‘America first.’ That sounded in my ear not very nice.”
In fact, the Tibetan spiritual leader said in an interview with Sky News last month that this approach makes him feel “sad.”
“America, we consider [the] leading nation of [the] free world. America, it should take a global responsibility. And the reality [is], America is part of the world….[If] America is isolated from the rest of the world, America will suffer,” he added.
At the Indian event, he also called out Trump’s lack of commitment to environmental issues, telling event attendees, “on that, I feel some reservation.”
Trump and the Dalai Lama have not yet met in person, though a U.S. lawmaker has reportedly suggested such a meeting take place, according to The Hill.
However, there has been speculation that one reason the president may be holding off, at least for now, is because he does not want to anger China--which has a conflicted history with Tibet--amid rising tensions with North Korea.