The Trouble With Trump

 It is not "hyperbole" to describe Trump as a narcissistic and amoral pathological liar, as well as a convicted felon. It is not political bias or ever "Trump hate." All is based upon objective facts, no matter how much his delusional followers deny or ignore them. His actions require scrutiny and analysis. Consider the following:

"After meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said that about 2 million Palestinians could be resettled as the U.S. rebuilds the war-torn area into the "Riviera of the Middle East."

UN Secretary Guterres described the proposal as "tantamount to ethnic cleansing," and Amnesty International called such action a "war crime." US Secretary of State Rubio called it "a very generous plan to rebuild Gaza," ignoring the fact that massive destruction in Gaza was done by indiscriminate Israeli bombing of infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, while murdering over 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. That massive destruction, accompanied by denial and blockage of humanitarian aid by Israel is "collective punishment," also defined by international conventions as a war crime.

The cultural insensitivity and inhumane tenor of the proposal is astounding, but also unfortunately typical of Trump. He envisions Gaza as one of his golf course development projects for the wealthy. It is not that he necessarily "hates" Palestinians, though his history regarding Arab and Muslim people suggests racial and religious bigotry. His more salient ethic is that he doesn't care about or regard Palestinians as human beings. They are "inconvenient" obstacles to his view of "economic development."

The "problematic" aspect, the trouble with Trump, is that he is in the White House. When he previously opposed/demanded removal of North Sea wind farms to improve the views from a proposed Trump golf course development, he was ignored and laughed at, not least because of implications for UK energy if he were taken seriously. However, when he makes equally or more insane self-serving proposals as a US president, and the Sec. of State obediently genuflects, world leaders are less sure whether to take him seriously. They know that Trump is a madman but given the submissive nature of the GOP majorities in Congress and slavering fealty of Trump appointed US government officials, other countries and their leaders are uncertain whether they can trust the American people any longer.

For better or worse, Trump "speaks for" the USA for the next 4 years [subject to possible impeachment]. Whether it is annexing Canada, seizing the Panama Canal, purchasing Greenland, or a trade war with the nations primary trading partners the American public is "responsible for" the idiotic things said and done by its president, including CRIMINAL actions. The SCOTUS has said such high crimes and misdemeanors are presumptively subject to presidential immunity from prosecution. The DOJ will not investigate wrongdoing and is persecuting government employees who have done their job investigating and seeking to hold Trump and others accountable. The GOP led Congress lacks the integrity or courage to impeach Trump, and prior failed attempts to do so have emboldened Trump.

The current GOP has been described as a "jellyfish," an organism without a brain or a backbone. The description is unkind, but not entirely inaccurate. The point is that any remedy cannot be expected from those quarters, regardless of damage Trump inflicts on the nation and the world, regardless of the adverse effects on countless of American families. They have produced this durable result through gerrymandering, financial corruption, and coopting media, and will make recovery most difficult.

And now, the steering wheel of US government has largely been turned over to an unelected billionaire tyrant who has openly threatened any GOP congress member who might dare to resist or disobey. Federal employees are subject to a reign of terror, fearing for their jobs if they do not swear fealty to the Trump/Musk regime.

Two courses of action remain. The first is to continue to pay attention, analyze, and call out falsehoods and deceit. The purpose of this is not to persuade the MAGA cult members or change their minds, arguably a lost cause. The purpose is to make factual information visible and to reaffirm the value of truth and integrity. Changing minds of those who refuse to accept facts might be a futile and frustrating effort, like "teaching a pig to sing," but such affirmation does resist allowing prevarication, deceit, and corruption to change those who do value honesty, facts and integrity.

The second course of action is to cultivate and support representatives at all levels of government who do value democracy, honesty, and integrity. Seek out and communicate with representatives who truly are representative of voices and values that wish to make life better for all. Engage in difficult and uncomfortable conversations about deficiencies in governance and systemic ills of racism, sexism, homophobia and other forms of institutionalized bigotry.

If these courses of action are followed vigorously and consistently, the eyes of the world may see that the American people may be worthy of trust, despite the "trouble with Trump," and that this too shall pass.