As Americans, we should always count on our leaders to exhibit sound judgment and the best ethical character. To cite Thomas Jefferson, if “we maintain these truths to be self-evident” then Donald Trump stands an opportunity of being considered the worst president in our fabled historical past.
Whereas Barack Obama tried to construct the theme of his administration on hope, justice, civility, decency, eloquence and inclusion, Trump’s path to energy is paved with bricks of concern, intimidation, retribution, self-aggrandizement and just-plain dishonesty. It could be straightforward to quote his 34 felony convictions, 26 sexual assault allegations, two impeachments, and 30,000-plus documented lies throughout his time as chief government however these are simply the tip of the iceberg because it pertains to proving simply how unfit he’s to be our president.
Let’s begin with a number of the main occasions of this second time period.
Whereas undocumented immigrants needs to be topic to intense scrutiny as to the legality of their standing on this nation, they shouldn’t be abused or denied any due course of rights as assured by the Fifth and 14th amendments. Their presence must also not permit exaggerated MAGA fears that “these persons are terrorizing our nation, killing our kids, raping our girls, and destroying our western Christian tradition” (see quotes from Rep. Michael Tilli (R-Ohio) to be promoted as truth.
Trump’s unprecedented assault on alleged drug-running velocity boats within the Caribbean and Pacific areas has produced, to this date, 22 strikes, 87 deaths and two rescues. These reprehensible actions have been taken on mere suspicion and but are defended as being proactive to cease the movement of unlawful medication into our nation. Nonetheless, they can be seen as unwarranted murders the place the suspects’ lives are indiscriminately taken. On this mild, Pete Hegseth could be retitled the Secretary of Battle Crimes and who’s his Commander-in-Chief, I ask? Trump’s vendetta in opposition to accused narco-terrorist Venezuelan dictator, Nicolas Maduro, could be interpreted as hypocritical once you attempt to make heads or tails of Trump’s latest pardon of ex-Honduran president, Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was convicted by a federal jury in 2024 and sentenced to 45 years in jail for conspiring to smuggle cocaine and firearms into our nation. It begs the query about his true Latin American motives: is it to cease medication or take Venezuelan oil (see tanker seizure)?
Talking of pardons, how can Trump justify pardoning the 1000-plus rioters who assaulted our Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021? Additionally, what was his motivation is pardoning Chanpeng Zhao, CEO of Binance (a cryptocurrency firm) who pleaded responsible to unlawful enterprise dealings. May Zeng’s partnership with World Liberty Monetary, a Trump family-owned crypto enterprise, have something to do with it?
Trump’s repeated use of the phrase “faux information” displays his contempt for anybody within the media that criticizes or disagrees with him. In his try and fully management the narrative, he has lashed again at social commentators comparable to Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert in a totally uncivil method. His misogyny additionally shines via with latest references to feminine reporters who requested questions he didn’t like as being “piggy” and “silly” and” how silly are you?” He renamed one among his most ardent supporters (Marjorie Taylor-Greene) as “Marjorie Traitor Greene” because of her insistence that he launch the Epstein recordsdata, which he has been intently related to. What does he have to cover and why is his pores and skin so skinny?
In ending, I might go on and on about his apparent character flaws, which proceed with such claims that he has ended “eight or 9 wars” or that his tariffs have raised “trillions of {dollars}.” Whereas earlier administrations may need thought of taking questionable and/or controversial actions, it appears that evidently there may need been a frontrunner who opposed it due to its potential illegality and long-term undemocratic penalties. Trump’s cupboard and group of advisers, nonetheless, appear to ignore these issues in favor of an “finish justifies the means” method with the purpose being enriching themselves and the remainder of the highest 1% economically on the expense of our treasured American democracy.
Once more, Donald Trump is a humiliation and will likely be remembered as our worst president ever.
Greg Tafel is a retired SVVSD instructor/coach.
