The Dalai Lama criticizes Trump’s “America First” policy

April 9, 2017 by Justin Whitaker

In the video posted by England’s Channel 4 News yesterday (below), the Dalai Lama also discusses the need for a compassionate cultural revolution in China and the possibility of the end of his line of rebirths.

Speaking of the Trump policy, he said:

“I believe, with admiration, America as a leading nation of the free world. So, some new thinking: ‘Only America’, ‘First America’, right?  ‘America First’ – I feel a little bit… disagreement. As a leading nation of the free world, America should act with that spirit…”

The India Times also reported on the Dalai Lama’s opposition to the policy, writing:

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today said he was opposed to the US President Donald Trump’s “America First Policy”, which he believed was unbecoming of a country that encouraged free thinking.

“I disagree with the America First policy. It is unbecoming of a country that encourages free thinking,” he told reporters after a discourse at the Yid-Ga-Choezin ground here attended by Buddhist Lamas and common people.

Speaking on China and his potential reincarnation, the Dalai Lama continued:

Now China needs another cultural revolution movement, under the leadership of the communist party. The previous cultural revolution motivated much hatred and anger. This cultural revolution should be a compassionate cultural revolution. That goes very close with Chinese cultural heritage, and also goes very closely with Buddhism.

Whether this very institution of the Dalai Lama should continue or not is up to the Tibetan people. Consult people, if people feel now that this institution is no longer relevant, then this institution will automatically cease.

The Dalai Lama, who holds no official political role yet regularly meets with heads of state due to his world-renowned religious authority, has said little about the new American President. In September he did joke around about Trump’s hair and “little mouth” and last March, in an interview with neuroscientist Richard Davidson at his side, he said of Trump that “personal criticism looks a little cheap.”