Trump Threatens Our Ally Because They Support … Breastfeeding
On This Day In 2018
It was an out-of-left-field move that stunned world health officials. At the 2018 Geneva UN World Health Assembly, Ecuador had presented a motion to encourage breastfeeding as a way to boost health outcomes for babies globally. It was non-controversial and was expected to be approved quickly.
But then, to the shock of most observers, one nation stood up to resist the move: The United States. As the NYT explained, the Trump Administration had decided to instead "embrac(e) the interests of infant formula manufacturers."
But, breastfeeding is universally considered the healthiest way to nourish children. As Vox pointed out OTDI 2018, "the formula question is especially important in the developing world because of water quality issues, as most baby formula comes in powder form to be mixed with water.”
Yet again, Trump applied his personal disdain of science to his policies in ways which harm the health of humanity worldwide.
“What you are seeing here is the collusion of the U.S. government with the infant formula industry, which is very similar to the collusion of the U.S. government with the National Rifle Association,” noted Rafael Perez-Escamilla, a professor at the Yale School of Public Health
Trump doubles down: When Ecuador still tried to push it through, Trump’s delegation, headed by Nikki Haley, started playing the bully. They reportedly threatened the Ecuadorians with punitive trade measures and a reduction of military assistance unless they withdrew their proposal. This time, Ecuador had no choice but to back down.
A spokesperson at Baby Milk Action noted "What happened was tantamount to blackmail, with the U.S. holding the world hostage and trying to overturn nearly 40 years of consensus on the best way to protect infant and young child health.”
Guess who stepped in to save the day? It was left to Russia to re-introduce the proposal...and this time Trump didn't try to interfere with Putin's team.
So, to summarize, this OTDI incorporates so much of what's wrong with Donald Trump:
He rejected science
He sided with corporate interests
He didn't care about global health.
He ignored the needs of women
He acted like a bully to weaker countries
He tried to screw over our ally.
He didn't back down; refused to admit he's wrong.
He slinked away when challenged by Putin.
Dive Deeper
Read the New York Times story from Andrew Jacobs that exposed the scandal
Eric Levitz take in New York magazine on the "outrageous and normal" attack on children's health for the sake of corporate profits
Emily Stewart at Vox explains the issue