Why is the red-tied loser in the White House instead of in jail?

In 2016, less than half of American voters (and the archaic Electoral College) elected a vulgar egomaniac to the presidency, someone whose brain was laser-focused on money, power and predatory sex. This bullish con man was such a wild and crazy guy that mainstream media recognized his entertainment value and so gave him a big sky of free airtime during the 2016 campaign. Granted this generous exposure, the self-described “genius” deal maker successfully rode the nation’s disdain for politics as usual. He also fueled primal fears, perpetual insecurities and latent nationalism with crisp slogans like “America First,” “Drain the Swamp” and “Build the Wall.”

In the next four years, his ignorance, dishonesty and petulant behavior “woke” the public out of their trance. Following his 2000 dethronement, the red-tied loser incited an insurrection to prevent the constitutional transfer of power. For this crime of high treason, the craven Republican Party should have impeached him. Instead, they wagged their finger and said “naughty, naughty.” The fired loser then planned a vengeful second act. The billionaire class, seeing a useful buffoon, bankrolled his dream of playing God in an encore performance. With this lucrative boost, he ran again, blatantly admitting dictatorial hunger. The scatter-brained Democratic opposition propped up a mentally diminished incumbent, which played a supporting role in allowing the would-be king to reclaim the White House. This, in 2024, a majority of the electorate that lived in a country with a 99 percent adult literacy were lulled into inflicting themselves with double jeopardy.

It could be “worser.” As of autumn 2025, there was no organized system of concentration camps in the Divided States of America. In the meantime, people of goodwill wonder when the pendulum might swing from mean-spirited divisiveness to compassionate unity.

M.G. Balistreri
Ashland, Wisconsin

Who will Trump and his enablers hate next?

I wonder how long it will take before some people stop turning a blind eye to president Trump’s actions? First he deports children as young as 2 to that prison in South America and the latest is an 88-year-old decorated veteran. Then his ice agents who are masked abuse people for no reason. Now he’s picking on people here from Afghanistan and Somalia. Of course there’s his hit list of people he doesn’t like or have the nerve to tell it like it is.

Just think if we hadn’t allowed or deported German people because of Hitler he wouldn’t be here then we wouldn’t have to put up with him. Who’s next ordinary people who exercise they’re right to free speech being arrested or deported? It scares me to think about it.

Cecilia Hill
Duluth, Minnesota

Trump is a failure for America

I feel compelled to speak plainly about what a disastrous president Donald Trump is — not out of partisanship, but out of concern for the health and stability of our democracy. His term in office is nothing but division, instability and erosion of norms that Americans across the political spectrum once took for granted.

At the most basic level, the presidency demands respect for institutions, truth and the rule of law. Trump routinely undermines all three. He attacks our elections, our courts, our democratically elected leaders, our public health agencies, our intelligence community and even the idea of objective facts.

A president doesn’t have to be perfect, but he does have to care about the country more than himself. Time and again, Trump proves he does not.
Under his watch, the country is experiencing some of the most toxic polarization in modern history. Instead of calming tensions, he inflames them for political gain. Instead of leading with compassion during crises, he belittles, blames and mocks. His childish rhetoric emboldens the worst impulses in America.

Leadership is tested in times of crisis, and Trump has failed that test profoundly and repeatedly.
Economically, he promised to champion working people, yet his signature legislative achievement was a tax bill that overwhelmingly benefited corporations and the wealthy. Meanwhile, he ballooned the national debt, launched damaging tariffs that hurt farmers, manufacturers and small businesses while offering no meaningful support to the workers he claimed to represent.

Most concerning of all was his relentless assault on democratic norms. No president in modern history has done more to weaken trust in elections and sow doubt in the peaceful transfer of power. The events of January 6 were not an accident; they were the predictable consequence of a leader who cared more about clinging to power than respecting the will of the people.

We deserve a president who lifts this country up, not one who drags it further into chaos. For the sake of our democracy and our national character, we must reject Trump’s corrosive style of leadership and insist on something far better. Now!

M. Arnold Bowen
Duluth, Minnesota