Final Word from Thursday, July 11, 2024
Ex-Pres. Miloš Zeman bucked the trend last week and told XTV that the debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump was essentially even from a substance standpoint, although it was indeed a complete failure for Biden esthetically. This criticism of Trump can probably be attributed to the way he snubbed Zeman and never invited him to the White House, although Zeman had supported Trump wholeheartedly. The U.S. ambassador in Prague under Trump, Stephen King, said in Dec. 2018 that Trump didn't want to be linked through Zeman to Russia. Zeman's successor, Petr Pavel, visited the conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington this week to "find a way to Trump," but he might have his own insurmountable obstacle. Pavel used a televised interview in March to criticize both of the U.S. candidates. Trump, he said, is the "dreaded American option," and Biden is someone who has "already done his part." Pavel added that he's sorry that such a large country wasn't able to offer its citizens a wider choice. Pavel and Zeman can't agree on much, but a Plan C that doesn't include Biden or Trump might just suit both of them. [ Czech Republic Jan Lipavský foreign policy United States of America presidential Czech TV Television ]
Glossary of difficult words
to buck (a trend) - to go against;
to snub - to insult someone by not giving him or her any attention or by treating him or her as being unimportant;
wholeheartedly - with complete sincerity and commitment;
insurmountable - too great to be overcome;
dreaded - regarded with great fear or apprehension;
to suit - to be convenient for or acceptable to.