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I am responding to the writer of "Why so Much Hate for Trump?" (Aug. 10).
The issue is not one of hate. The most important issue in regard to President Donald Trump is whether you have confidence in this individual to make good decisions that help our people, that strengthen the country, and that strengthen our democracy.
No other president and administration has done more to damage American democracy than Trump. You can accuse people of "hate" because you are blind to his sins. I say the question the writer should be asking is "What are the issues that show why Americans are turning against Trump?"
While our democracy has never been perfect, it is the American ideal that has survived for 250 years. And our democracy is now increasingly rejecting Trump's increasingly anti-democratic regime. Trump wants an oligarchy -- he has allied himself with oligarchs and undermined longstanding democratic ideals. He uses fear mongering and lies and has created a divide in this nation.
Trump is a liar. Just now he proclaims victory in Iran and that the Strait of Hormuz are open. Lies. His followers excuse the lies or sadly actually believe him.
He started an unnecessary war after he earlier stated that all of Iran's nuclear facilities had been obliterated by U.S. and Israeli precision strikes during the 2025 conflict. He ignored Congress's right to be consulted. Now this Iran War has killed 17 American servicemen without cause.
After months of war, Iran has held the USA at bay, now controls the Strait of Hormuz, has increased costs on everything, and is refusing to negotiate, while a desperate, babbling president is incapable of ending a mess that one time was not a mess. And as he proclaims at least Iran doesn't have a nuclear weapon, he is allowing the Saudis to be able to have nuclear capabilities -- and let's remember it was mostly Saudis who committed 9-11.
Note what foreign policy scholar and diplomat Philip Gordon wrote: "U.S. acceptance of Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz is an extraordinary outcome only made conceivable by an administration that squandered legitimacy, alienated allies, attempted regime change in a war it had not adequately prepared for and that is being forced to accept a catastrophic outcome without viable alternatives."
He has failed to release the full, un-redacted Epstein files, preventing the American people from recognizing those guilty -- and if he himself were innocent he'd release them all. Everything points to Trump being part of a pedophile ring.
Trump has attacked the free press, one of the lynchpins of our democracy. They are not the fake press, they are the bringers of truth to our citizens.
He has bypassed Congress on important matters (such as war with Iran) This means he wants to act like a king not a democratically elected official.
He is more friendly with Russia's Vladimir Putin and other oligarchs than he is with our own allies -- whom we do need. His tariffs have increased our own costs and made our allies turn from us.
He wants to end NATO, which while sometimes ineffective, has prevented World War III. The fact Putin wants it ended proves it is so important.
He has attacked our right to vote by threatening to purge thousands of their ability to vote, by erecting barriers to being able to vote, and by refusing to accept the results of an election that has been certified to have been legitimate.
He is a despicably cruel and irrational person whose remarks against other people and especially women are infantile and cruel.
He has been found civilly guilt of rape in the case of E. Jean Carroll.
He has dismantled important agencies of government -- all under the pretense he is saving money when he has spent over 100 billion dollars on his unnecessary war.
In those agencies he is firing competent people to replace them with yes men who have one job--not to help the American people but to be loyal to their king. He is removing government watchdogs meant to help Americans stay safer, healthier, and more secure..
He is creating an oligarchy of those loyal to him but not to the US constitution -- the very essence of our democracy.
He threatens to use the military against US citizens under the pretense there is a national emergency.
He is undermining the justice system and replacing people loyal to the law and Constitution with the gestapo system of beatings, illegal jailings, and injustice. His ICE goons presume people are guilty and are willing to execute people.
The "beautification" of Washington, D.C., has wasted millions. The reflecting pool was mismanaged by a no-bid contractor who didn't know what he was doing. Gold leafing of statues has amounted to millions of dollars wasted. American businesses, farms and ranches are dying yet he's wasting money. He claims donors will pay for the horrifying destruction of part of the White House and building of his personal palace, but there has been no public announcement of anyone contributing to its funding. That single building will now cost nearly one billion dollars. And the American public will pay for it.
You admire his giving his salary back? What does it matter that he gave up his salary when he has illegally made over two billion dollars through contrivance of his position as president. He is the epitome of corruption.
Trump has a desire to use a billion dollars of your tax money to pay criminals who attacked the Capitol, were convicted of crimes, and then "pardoned" by Trump.
By the way, a report states that the $1,000 given to a child born under Trump's plan will never rise to have a million dollars. Left alone to compound in an fund until 18, a single $1,000 investment will grow possibly to tens of thousands of dollars. A family must contribute the maximum allowable amount of up to $5,000 per year into the fund every year and continue past age 18, to cause the fund to rise to a million dollars or more.
Finally, if Joe Biden or Barack Obama ever hid on a catering cart to escape an Iranian danger, yet put his own staff and press in danger, we would never hear the end of it. The hypocrisy is profound. And yet MAGA has the insanity to call democrats snowflakes?
Trump’s approval rating is down to 30%. I'm shocked it is that high. Only one thing matters: They know he is destroying our democracy. And if anyone out there wants a "strong man" oligarch to replace our democracy, I'll personally pay for your plane ticket to Russia.
Diane Andrasik is a Dunkirk resident.