When did President Trump turn against America? It seems to me this question goes to the heart of where we are as Americans weigh a $40T national debt driving up our cost of borrowing. Or in international alliances, where up seems down, as we align with Russia. And what about the Middle East, should we have chosen war?
But let me go back and then quickly forward.
The Democrats, or if you prefer—the Left, had dug a hole. And when the electorate said “quit digging”, President Biden insisted on giving still more money away while engaging in racial weighing and gender politics. And now on the Far Left of the Democratic Party—the so-called Progressives— there is a barely disguised hate America gloss. Perhaps in hindsight they hated Bill Clinton’s apostasy—the last President to balance the budget.
Re-enter Donald Trump several years ago, again using his catchy slogan “Make America Great Again”, a performative style and his earlier TV show luster. Plus, a dogged, revenge-seeking, determination. Earlier he was the founder of the “I’m mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore” Party. But this time the ambition was different.
The opposition Party belittled him, underestimated his appeal and lamely fielded candidates and platforms, including in 2024 a disabled President Biden, and then an unknown from the sunny left-coast, California. Okay, Kamala Harris was not unknown, but so little was known about her that it was easy for campaign professionals to define her—not to her benefit.
Trump, barred from running again, has now turned the gun on his Party. Although, many of its leaders are so slavishly devoted they seem to not care. His current political suicide tendencies recall, to me, a telling moment in his self-definition.
Recall what Trump said of former naval officer, POW and US Senator, John McCain: “He’s not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.” McCain was imprisoned in a brutal North Vietnamese prison camp for five years.
The truth is Trump doesn’t like to work with other people. Share the wins and losses. Collaborate. I can’t think of an allergy that is more debilitating in a so-called government leader. When Trump blows the whistle, he wants everybody’s but on the ground. I can’t even get my Labrador Retriever to do that.
Trump along the way was captured, not by North Vietnam, but by private service dressed up as public service. He and his family have boosted their wealth by hundreds of millions by taking ownership positions in companies that either were or soon would be doing business with the government.
Is this acceptable? In a democracy the voters set standards. Thankfully we have an election only weeks away and the voters will get to answer that bedrock question.
Recently, what about Trump pushing the delete button on the Constitution delegating to Congress the power to declare war? Trump, playing semantic games, refused to call our attacks on Iran war.
Was it acceptable when he tore down half of the White House, without Congressional approval? How about changing the name of the Kennedy Center to aggrandize himself?
What about choosing sycophants to lead important departments? I wonder how Pete Hegseth’s elevation would poll among conservatives. And presaging recent follies, he renamed the Department of Defense the Department of War.
Or, attacking free speech by making the Federal Communications Commission an office in the White House and using it to censor critics.
So what are Trump’s MAGA goals? In foreign policy, war, to what end? Implicit alliance with Russia? Partnership with North Korea? Seizing Greenland? Starting a trade war with our northern neighbor?
November’s results will stun Republicans, but they shouldn’t be surprised. When MAGA’s claims became Trump’s whims the catchy slogan became a parody.
Yep, Trump should be concerned about the early November election balloting. Not about potential ballot stealing, but about his having turned on America.
