Trump's second overseas trip comes at a time of troubles

DONALD Trump begins his second foreign foray as US president on Wednesday with a stop-off in Poland before heading to the G-20 summit in Germany on Friday. Mr Trump's trip comes at a time of troubles for him, internationally, with people in many countries already having less confidence in him than George W Bush at the height of his own travails as president.

Given Mr Trump's unpopularity is particularly marked in Western Europe, it is no coincidence that he has decided to make a Polish stop-off where Washington recently deployed hundreds of troops. The country's government, run by the conservative, Eurosceptic Law and Justice Party, has been much more welcoming of Mr Trump than many other European Union (EU) counterparts, and the country is one of only four Nato members other than the United States that spend the 2 per cent target of gross domestic product on defence.

Examples of the Polish administration's affinity with Mr Trump include its opposition to immigration, support for burning coal and scepticism of multilateral institutions. Right now, for instance, Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo finds herself in heated battles with the EU over her administration's refusal to resettle refugees and migrants, and opposition to judicial changes that Brussels says will weaken the rule of law.