Trump's Decisions in 100 Days

Post # 377, Bob McKnight's Florida Commentary

If you voted for Trump, here is what you got.

Donald Trump's charm to his base is that he is very blunt and is not afraid to insult people. Many of his supporters say they don't like his behavior, but agree with his disdain for government, which is enough to vote for him. But many of those same people ignore his lack of knowledge or his understanding of government. As a result, with Trump elected, we have the following, among many other failures:

• Trump pardoned thousands of convicted criminals whom Trump called Patriots. Most Americans widely criticize this decision, but it falls under the Trump base saying, "The Deep State" stole the election because Trump said so, and therefore these people were trying to resecure the election for Trump.

  
  

• Trump issued new tariffs on our trading partners of Mexico, Canada, China, and Europe, trying to tie the need for curtailing the movement of drugs like fentanyl into our country. It turns out the concern about drugs coming into our country was greatly exaggerated, a routine Trump ploy. Knowing his real estate negotiating experience typically included trading issues, he thought his increased tariffs would give him a trading currency. Unfortunately, Trump did not understand then nor now that increased tariffs ultimately cripple the participants, as Republican President Reagan told us years ago.

• As part of his assault on our loyal trading partner Canada, Trump complained when they reciprocated by increasing the cost of Canadian-generated electricity sold to a handful of American cities. Trump complained, asking who negotiated that awful trade agreement. You did, Mr. President, in your first term with the USMCA Trade Agreement, which you described at the time as the "most important trade deal ever made by the USA." Ahem.

  
  

• Although our Constitution expressly provides that Congress has the power of the purse in managing our government, Trump has authorized a non-elected and unconfirmed by the Senate business friend, Elon Musk, to terminate government employees and authorized programs without any oversight. Many of his actions will result in financial gain for Musk and his businesses. Congress, abrogating its serious responsibility, has said nothing, despite numerous court rulings that the actions by Musk and Trump are unlawful. The courts have ruled that way almost without exception.

• Trump has a reputation for being a liar--over 30,000 lies in his first term alone. Since each lie can affect whether his decision or action is appropriate or even lawful, his continuance in office is without any accountability. Since neither the Congress nor the Courts will accept their responsibility to issue checks and balances, the abuses will only continue during his second term. Almost no Trump statements are accepted as spoken because of his record of lies.

  
  

• As expected, Trump has abandoned NATO, Ukraine, and democratic countries to support Russia and other dictators, destroying our world reputation. He has said Europe may not be there to help us in the future. Perhaps he thinks that butcher Vladimir Putin and Russia will.

For a slight majority of our population, these are some of the actual results of a presidency of 100 days to go.

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