President Donald Trump must "redeem himself" and prove the United States' importance to the rest of the world by outlining his foreign policy, according to former National Security adviser Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski.
"There is both a global and a personal reason for [a speech on foreign policy]," he said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program on Thursday. "First of all, personal. The president has to redeem himself internationally. He is the president of the United States. He is my president, even though I didn't support him, but I'm for him.
"I want him to be a success. He doesn't look like a success to the rest of the world right now. So he has to redeem himself. But, secondly, the world has to have more confidence in the United States. So we have to bear in mind the world needs America, but America needs the world."
Trump recently addressed reports of antagonistic phone calls with foreign leaders, including Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, telling Americans "don't worry about it" on Thursday, according to Politico.
"I would like the president to give a comprehensive speech in which he outlines why America is important to the world and why the world needs America," he added. "But, at the same time, take advantage of the opportunity and point out what we expect from the world.
"That is a perfectly decent, comprehensive speech. It doesn't get him involved in immediate detail and at the same time, sets a tone and, most important of all, in the short run improves his image."
Brzezinski also questioned the potential conflicts of interest in Trump's administration, although he wouldn't name anyone specifically.
"Well, for four years, I was in effect, on behalf of the president and under his instructions, running the process, the policy making process within that framework," he said about his time as former President Jimmy Carter's National Security adviser.
"I wouldn't have on the staff supporting that process anyone who has had or still has a personal stake in financial arrangements with some of the key countries that we have to deal with in greater detail.
"I don't want to mention names and starting suggestions. But I think there is a real problem with the personnel, the supportive personnel that is engaged in this process."
He also addressed Trump's executive order on immigration:
"Well, I think in a general sense, it damages our image. Obviously, and for obviously good reasons, some countries, some people, some faiths are very negatively effective and very cruelly affected so that policy needs rapid improvement."
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