Trump is no dangerous idiot, as his nifty diplomacy on North Korea and China trade shows

Donald Trump a moron? Hardly. Far from being a moron, the US president is actually a pretty smart cookie. A smart cookie is what Trump called North Korean strongman Kim Jong-un. Recent events, unimaginable just months ago, show both are smart in very different ways.

Kim is a calculating chameleon who can order the ruthless murder of his uncle and brother yet charm Chinese leader Xi Jinping into thawing the chill between them. Trump is no murderer but is cocksure smart, a cowboy-style leader with his finger on the trigger. He figuratively shoots first and asks questions later. Kim shoots first and doesn’t ask questions.

Former US president Jimmy Carter last week indirectly called Trump a jerk during an American TV interview. I agree. But that doesn’t mean jerks can’t be smart. It was big-time jerk Harvey Weinstein’s smarts that elevated him to the dizzying heights of Hollywood from where he took sexual advantage of women.

Let’s give credit where credit’s due. Do you honestly think Kim’s sudden charm offensive sprang from a heartfelt desire to be a peacemaker? He would still be testing missiles if Trump hadn’t threatened fire and fury with a nuclear button that he said was bigger than Kim’s, who he mockingly called “little rocket man”.