On May 21, 2017, the Tribune published my op-ed letter four months into the first Trump administration. At that time, I noted that our democracy was under attack by this president. He was violating the rule of law in so many ways that it made Nixon look like a choir boy.
At this point in Trump 2.0, we have seen more chaos than in the four years of Trump 1.0. His reckless imposition of tariffs and subsequent pauses have caused uncertainty in the logistics of commercial trade. Wall Street traders coined an acronym, TACO, to mean Trump Always Chickens Out.
Recently, the Court of International Trade ruled that the president doesn’t have the power to impose tariffs unilaterally. The Constitution gives that power to Congress. We elect presidents, not kings. Numerous lawsuits have been filed against the Trump administration over many issues, such as DOGE cuts, birthright citizenship, attacks on law firms, universities and election procedures.
Trump said that the Ukraine war would not have started if he were president in February 2021. He also said that he would end that war on day one of Trump 2.0. He thinks that he gets along with Putin, but that is what Putin wants him to think. Putin illegally invaded Ukraine intending to take Kiev in three days. Putin will not stop until he gets all he wants from Ukraine. If Trump doesn’t get it together with NATO and help the Ukraine army push the Russians out, the war will go on and on with no chance for a “cease-fire” to succeed.
Regarding the Qatari jumbo jet “gift” to the Pentagon, it turns out that it was Trump who approached Qatari officials about getting the $400,000,000 plane. Doha officials say that there will be no transfer of ownership until a bill of sale satisfies the legal requirements for the deal. It would take up to a billion dollars to turn the plane into Air Force One. What a deal for us taxpayers.
The Qataris found a patsy to unload their extravagant flying palace which requires a lot of money for upkeep. Trump just can’t wait for Boeing to deliver the planes the Pentagon has ordered. Be careful what you wish for.
Don Hiddleson, Millcreek
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