One should talk tough to friends in private, but, as the first phone call with the president of the United States, you're trying to build your personal relationship. You're trying to build on the alliance and the partnerships that we have. Usually, that tough talk doesn't happen with your friends and partners. And people wonder why the tough talk by Donald Trump is happening with Mexico and happening with Germany and happening with our pals, but it's not happening with Russia.
Wendy ShermanIf you read Donald Trump's book "The Art of the Deal," you know that he likes to create leverage, he likes to have psychological advantage, he likes to be on the offense. He believes in what he calls truthful hyperbole.
Wendy ShermanDonald Trump can have some advantage in negotiations. NAFTA is high on his agenda.But if he goes too far, I think the president of Mexico Enrique Pena and the Mexicans will decide they would just as soon get out of NAFTA, and we don't want that either. There may need to be some changes, but to re-imagine the entire world we have had an international order. It's not perfect, but for 70 years, it has kept Europe whole and free and safe, and we need to keep it in place.
Wendy ShermanDonald Trump thinks all press is good press. And I think he believes that he's putting everybody on a psychological disadvantage.
Wendy ShermanRussia is the biggest threat to the international order, not the Islamic State, not Iran, although I have problems with Iran, and not China. It's Russia.
Wendy ShermanWhen the president Donald Trump has leaked out what happens in his phone calls, and he's really taking on some of our dearest allies and partners around the world, people don't know what to expect and whether they can rely on the United States anymore.
Wendy ShermanI think that Republican analyst Steve Schmidt had a great line about Donald Trump, which is, Americans clearly voted for change , but they didn't vote for chaos. I think people are feeling unnerved all around the world, because they see a chaotic set of directions coming out of the White House, and they're not sure what it all means.
Wendy Sherman