This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Aristotle once said "men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting in a particular way."
Less than six months into his presidential term, President Donald Trump is facing allegations of obstruction of justice as well as multiple investigations into his presidential campaign's ties with Russia. Are these controversies that big of a surprise? In terms of administrative ethics, Trump's potential conflicts of interest as commander in chief have been a common topic of debate (potential conflicts for which he still has not taken the proper preventative measures to avoid). However, an important yet simple concept underpinning Trump's controversial actions is character.
Virtue theory, understood as character-based ethics, may seem like an outdated or naïve concept that the American public should no longer take seriously in the 21st century. However, ethical examinations, through the lens of virtue, may very well explain the problematic aspects of Trump's presidency.
Trump's display of questionable judgment, not to mention his tendency for avoiding personal responsibility, is well documented. For example, anticipating a potential election loss last November, Trump attempted to create a public narrative in October, delegitimizing what he described as the "rigged" American election system. Recently, Trump declared himself to be the most "unfairly" treated American president in history. Both assertions lack validity and, together, demonstrate a lack of prudence.
Some experts define character as the sum of enduring dispositions—good or bad—that define the individual and are cultivated over a lifetime. Trump's character was molded long before he ran for president. Studies show that character cannot be understood apart from the community in which the individual participates. Trump's generous praise for, and intermingling with, numerous world leaders considered to be dictators reveal his true colors. Pictures of Trump in the Oval Office with Russian officials, apparently divulging highly classified intelligence, symbolize his loyalty to special interests over the public interest. Recent controversies by some of Trump's associates in the White House shed further light on the character of his community. For example, Kellyanne Conway's recent public remarks promoting the consumption of Ivanka Trump's shoe line not only reflected poor judgment but promoted special interest values.
In addition to examining the policy positions of political candidates, Americans must still demand virtue from their public officials. Virtue theory emphasizes that moral qualities and mental attitudes of public servants themselves make a difference in government service. Experts suggest that desirable character traits of public administrators are superior prudence, moral heroism, caring or love for humanity, trust in the citizenry, and a continuing quest for moral improvement. Yet, as a presidential candidate, Trump exhibited very little, if any, of these qualities. Instead, numerous derogatory remarks directed towards certain groups of people, and the demonization of political opponents, marked Trump's path to the White House.
Virtue should not be the sole focus of administrative ethics, nor should it be the only criterion when assessing one's fitness for public office. Furthermore, no public official can be expected to be flawless, particularly in today's high pressure political environment. Yet considering Trump's ascension to the presidency, any serious examination of virtue for the public became lost in bombastic campaign promises and glittering private sector credentials.
According to David K. Hart, a scholar of administrative ethics, "public servants have a greater obligation than those in the private sector to be men and women of character, prepared at all times to sacrifice personal gain for the public interest."
It is not necessarily a problem for a public official to have certain self-interests, but these must be properly balanced with personal responsibility and the public interest. President Trump has yet to display such a balance.
Chris Russell, Salt Lake City, hold a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Utah.