Do you think he was behind last year's protest against the Iranian government? Coz if he was then all progress was erased when he had Soleimani killed. Now support for the gov't in Iran is stronger than ever, or at least they no longer hate their gov't as bad as they do America. So no, I don't think Trump was behind that, it's clear that the cause was economic (hence why the mob targeted banks).
Same with Hong Kong, we know the protest arose organically, at least that's how it appears to me. Tension has been building up and the proposed bill that would have allowed HKers to be sent to the mainland for trial was the final straw.
If the US wants they should first start selling democracy in Saudi, the largest sponsor of religious terrorism.
That's cute but I doubt it'll ever happen. All this terrorism benefit the US government. In the homeland it allows them a justification for surveillance and abroad it gives them a reason to intervene.
I think your estimation of the public support the Iranian citizens have for their government is WAY off base. The sanctions against Iran alone have done their job and have sowed much discontent for their leadership. When the economy isn't doing well the government gets a lot of resistance, this is nearly universal. Also I think you are underestimating the modernization of Iran and their citizen's desire to be more moderate. There are lots of signs of this if you bother to look. While I think the Western intelligence agencies certainly are playing a role in the unrest in Iran, it would not be possible if there was not a large popular push for it.
He absolutely could and would dare to openly support the Hong Kong protests, but he doesn't have to. The simple fact that China knows a crack down on Hong Kong would be bad optics for them as well as hurt them at the negotiating table with the US is already quite a bit of help to them. I recently heard some one float the idea of inviting Hong Kong to be the 51st state in the union. I think that would be a great idea
I mean there's also the fact that if Trump had done such a thing, stressing OPENLY here, then he's not going to get a trade deal with China and the market isn't going to be happy with that. The market isn't a big fan of uncertain and change in regards to trade laws, regulations, etc.
While I do want the HK protesters to be supported by Trump, I think the best way to do it, to ensure stability, is to support HK covertly. Do it through the intelligence agencies.
I disagree. The scenario I outlined in a lot of ways is a lot more hands off. If he was covertly meddling with China, not only would that piss them off more IMO, it would be very bad optics for him as well as de-legitimize the Hong Kong freedom movement. This would also serve to sow even more distrust from them than they already have being a highly suspicious people living in a low trust society used to saying one thing and doing another. This atmosphere is antithetical to a productive negotiation.
Him mildly and publicly supporting Hong Kong could even be interpreted by China as being a political move to satiate the US and world population as long as he is not too hamfisted about it, which he hasn't been. Additionally him giving a bit of a prod over Hong Kong but not full on addressing it is in a lot of ways a power move that creates a lot of leverage for him to use over China in the trade negotiations.
In effect he is saying I could make this much worse for you, and you really couldn't do much about it other than what you are already doing. IMO he has been handling China expertly in spite of the media critique of his approach to the situation. China is hurting a lot more than is publicly being disclosed over the pressure he is applying. This is not without cost for the USA of course, but IMO this needed to be done 20 years ago, and avoiding it would only seal our fate and slowly allow China to start taking control here in the US. This is not just about the economy but preserving our way of life. The interesting thing too is even though short term this is somewhat painful for the US economy as well, longer term it is pushing development of domestic industry putting us in a much better strategic position and creating a more independent North American industrial base.