I was sickened and ashamed for our country today, as I watched the Trump/ Vance meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. President Trump likes to boast, at every opportunity, about how tough he is, but I think most reasonable people understand that there is a difference between being tough and being a rude and ignorant jerk. (I would prefer stronger language here.)
I hold President Trump largely responsible for the hateful tone that has overwhelmed our country since his first term. Is it any wonder that the problem of bullying and hate speech infects our public discourse, with an especially devastating effect on young people? Sure, social media is a contributing factor, and there are others; but when our President has no filter, and continuously hurls insults at others, he is the opposite of a good role model. Shouting at and insulting the democratically-elected President of an allied country, a guest of the White House, is not the posture of an effective leader. Parading a foreign leader in front of TV cameras, so that the U.S. President can repeatedly insist how tough and respected he is, while emphasizing the weakness of the visiting leader, is no substitute for careful and thoughtful diplomacy. It is not behavior we should accept from a U.S. President.
Linda Godfry (2/28/2025)