Thomas Friedman thinks Trump is making a terrible mistake by talking about his aspirations to take Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal. After all, how can Trump position himself as a defender of international law with regard to Ukraine and Taiwan under those circumstances? Xi and Putin will simply throw his imperialism back in his face.
Friedman’s comment is correct, but it is based on an incorrect premise; Trump doesn’t pretend to care about international law or human rights–only power. He won’t make those arguments to Xi and Putin. He is undoubtedly going to help Putin carve up Ukraine, and if offered a deal with China on spheres of influence and managed trade that sacrifices Taiwan, expect him to take it.