Chapter 3504: Make him look bad!

As soon as Bernard Erno finished speaking, the expressions of the reporters around him became shocked and complicated.

Some reporters from non-American media outlets, when they heard that Bernard Arnault donated money but excluded America, had a mentality of watching the show.

When the American local media reporters heard this, their expressions immediately became a little ugly, and they felt that their country was being treated differently.

In fact, for the United States, 200 million US dollars is far from enough to cover the travel expenses for their nominal anti-terrorism operations, let alone anti-terrorism efforts, so they don't need Bernard Arnold's donation at all.

However, for American journalists, we can do without the money, but you cannot discriminate against us.

An American reporter immediately asked indignantly, "Mr. Elno, I'd like to know why you singled out the United States for the use of this donation. I believe that the United States has always been a global model for counter-terrorism and a leader in counter-terrorism operations. No one understands counter-terrorism better than the United States. Isn't it inappropriate for you to treat us differently in this matter?"

Bernard Elno looked at the reporter in surprise and jokingly said, "The tone and manner of your words remind me of an old friend, but I won't mention him by name here."

The reporters around who understood what was said burst into laughter.

Bernard Elno smiled and continued, "I still have to answer your question directly. Why does the United States have to be excluded from the $200 million? It's because up to now, Blackwater and the US government have not given us a satisfactory answer to the terrorist attack on White Horse Island. They just casually put forward a scapegoat and want to muddle through this matter. I personally do not accept this, and I believe Miss Tawana Sweet cannot accept it either. And all the people with a sense of justice in this world certainly cannot accept it!"

At this point, Bernard Elno snorted coldly, his face full of righteousness almost overflowing the screen. He raised a hand and said loudly: "If the United States cannot give me a satisfactory answer on this matter, I have reason to suspect that the United States is deliberately shielding Blackwater. If justice is not upheld in the United States, then I am willing to withdraw from the American market indefinitely with all my brands! Excluding the United States from the two hundred million US dollars in anti-terrorism donations is my attitude to the American government!"

The reporters around him did not expect that this old man who had always been profit-driven and even invented and promoted the distribution system in order to make money would be so full of sense of justice at this moment.

The American reporters looked at each other in bewilderment. Under such circumstances, it was unrealistic to ask them to continue to fight. Bernard Elno had already stood on the moral high ground. The previous incident on White Horse Island was a sensation and known to everyone. America was indeed in the wrong in this matter.

The President was also paying close attention to Bernard Elno's trip to the United States at this moment. What he cared about most was public opinion, so he was very worried that Bernard Elno would talk nonsense everywhere. And Bernard Elno did not disappoint him. As soon as he got off the plane, he started talking nonsense at full speed.

What's even more fucked up is that this Old Deng actually dared to make fun of me in a subtle way. This is intolerable.

His face darkened as he immediately instructed his staff, "Quick, notify all major media outlets to write articles immediately to throw mud at Bernard Elno. Dig up any old grievances he has and publicize them. Then, brand him as someone who came to the United States purely for hype and has no genuine interest in fighting terrorism."

The staff member quickly said, "Commander-in-Chief, this guy is so unscrupulous, it doesn't fit the nature of a businessman. I always feel that something is fishy. Moreover, he has the upper hand in this matter and is already on the moral high ground. If we rashly launch a public opinion war against him, we may very well shoot ourselves in the foot. In my opinion, we are in the wrong in this matter, so we should try to keep a low profile. If all else fails, we can impose appropriate penalties on Blackwater to calm public anger."

The President said angrily, "I didn't want to argue with him, but this guy is really going too far! He donated 200 million US dollars to hype himself up, which I can accept. As long as money is money, I will naturally welcome him with open arms. But why did he exclude America? Isn't this a blatant accusation and a deliberate slap in my face?"

He paused for a moment, then added, "I'm not intentionally trying to protect Blackwater. It's just that Blackwater's nature is too unique. Almost all of its members are our supporters. We have so many dirty jobs around the world that need them to do, and they're the only ones who can do them. If we don't help Blackwater now, once their reputation is completely tarnished, we won't be able to ask them to do our dirty work anymore, and the public will be very hostile to them! So no matter what, we have to help Blackwater now."

At this point, he gritted his teeth in annoyance and said, "If Bernard Erno hadn't kept insisting on this, the influence of this matter would have definitely declined by now!"

The chief aide was also somewhat helpless and said, "I really didn't expect that Bernard Elno would dare to oppose us so openly."

The commander-in-chief said sternly, "So, don't hesitate. Just do as I say. Let's directly fight him through public opinion. Isn't he on the moral high ground? While we can't climb up, we can pull him down! Once he's in the same moral trough as us, it'll be a dog-eat-dog fight, with no one right or wrong."

After that, he seriously educated his staff: "You must remember that sometimes, we don't have to make money to win. In the business world, it doesn't matter if I don't make money myself. As long as I can make my competitors lose money, I still win."

Seeing the thoughtful expressions on their faces, the commander-in-chief said calmly, "Think about it from another perspective, gentlemen. If you're already covered in shit and can't wash it off, why not just cover others in shit? When everyone is covered in shit, no one will just be disgusted by your stench."

The commander-in-chief's metaphor suddenly enlightened everyone!

Everyone immediately felt as if they had realized something, and their eyes became clear and shining.

Before, they'd worried Bernard Elno would fight them to the bitter end. Now, they realized the Commander was right. Now that things had come to this, what was there to fear? The White Horse Island incident had gotten them into a mess, and if they couldn't clean themselves up, they might as well give up and discredit Bernard Elno. Once he was discredited, the public would naturally turn against him.

So, the most senior, round-faced aide said without hesitation, "President, I'm going to contact the media right now and dig up all the dirt on Bernard Elno. It just so happens that he's been so rude to America today, and he's already offended the American media. They have a legitimate reason to confront him! Let's take this opportunity to discredit him!"

The Grand Commander nodded slightly, looking teachable. He smiled and said, "As Grand Commander, I may not have as much experience as those professional politicians, but when it comes to business, all the Grand Commanders of the past combined might not be my match. Bernard Elno is a businessman, so let's compete with him in the same way we compete in the business world!"