Less than three months into what will be a long four years, President Trump has changed America. Things that were abnormal, and in some cases unimaginable, are now a new normal. Things like accidentally sending an unjustly accused man to a harsh Venezuelan prison, telling America there is nothing to be done about returning the deportee to America, and then defying a court order when told to “facilitate” a return. And, of course, recklessly imposing mammoth tariffs and precipitating an eleven billion dollar decline in the value of the stock market.
And then there is Trump hawking “Teslers” in front of the White House, taking a lap in the presidential limo at a stock car race, and redecorating the Oval Office in garish gold.
I ask myself, sometimes daily, what is going on? Is there a rhyme to Trump’s reason? Maybe I do have some strain of Trump Derangement Syndrome because I can’t find one. I simply reassure friends who claim that “Trump is not right (in the head)” that “this can’t go on.”
This month, after more than eleven weeks of endless Executive Orders, some on paper straws and water pressure in shower heads, as well as angry retribution against perceived enemies, movement is being seen. Trump is shedding supporters. Yes, even true believers, some of them at least, are starting to question Trump.
I wish I could credit the Democrats for this welcome and hopefully-not-too-late movement away from Trump. Some in the party, including Bernie Sanders, AOC, and 25-hour speechmaker Senator Cory Booker, deserve some credit, but the President himself is paving his road out of town. He’s doing it by prompting questions.
Questions are often the best means of finding the truth, but they also are a powerful weapon against autocracy. And people are asking questions. Lots of questions. Questions that Trump, and even Press Secretary Karoline Levitt, a woman friends from New Jersey have called “a piece of work,” can’t answer. Questions like, “Why are you defying court orders?”
Here are a few:
Trump met with right-wing conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer (look her up if you are not familiar with her), who advised the President that two national security advisors were not “loyal.” Trump fired them. Is the President taking personnel advice from Loomer? Why?
Who in the White House developed the formula for Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs?” The tariff rates have been described as unrelated to tariffs but instead reflect, in part, trade deficits with individual countries. Why were tariffs imposed on an uninhabited island, but not on Russia? And, most importantly, now that the U.S. (and world) economy has been shaken to its core, why is Trump willing to precipitate a world depression?
Is Trump aiding or participating in insider stock trading? Anyone knowing that Trump was about to “pause” most of his tariffs could have bought stocks low and sold them high the next day. Senators Schiff and Gallego want to know who knew what when. They smell a rat.
Why did President Trump appoint clearly unqualified people to cabinet-level offices, especially RFK, Jr.? Check the spread of measles across the south and southwest, especially Texas. My personal question: Why haven’t you fired RFK, Jr.?
And what about “Signalgate?” Why did President Trump’s National Security Advisor accidentally add an Atlantic Magazine writer to the text exchange? More importantly, why did none of the other call participants confirm who was on the text exchange?
And what about retribution? Law firms are being extorted for representing clients and, just this week, a former Trump official has been accused of treason for questioning Trump’s policies during the President’s first term. My question: Will Attorney General Pam Bondi seek an indictment for someone who disputed Trump’s claim that the 2020 election was stolen?
Trump is sinking in the polls but seems too busy golfing to notice. Or too busy redecorating the Oval Office in gold, watching Elon Musk dismember the federal government, and otherwise engaging in behavior that is reminiscent of Benito Mussolini, the man who in addition to forming a disastrous alliance with Hitler, sought to take Italy into a golden age.
The people—Trump supporters and everyone else—are starting to realize what Trump’s America is. It is an America where Social Security offices are closed or woefully understaffed; where veterans are losing access to essential services; where federal support for education, the arts, and humanities is being slashed; and where Trump is making Canada and Mexico look elsewhere for friends.
Dare I say it? This nonsense cannot go on. Mr. President, your policies are impacting people’s everyday lives, including the people who voted for you. Do you have no shame?
J.E. Dean writes on politics, government, and, too infrequently, other subjects. A former counsel on Capitol Hill and public affairs consultant, Dean also writes for Dean’s List on Medium and Dean’s Issues & Insights on Substack.
Chris Gordon says
I remember Mao’s Cultural Revolution. What’s happening now in Trump’s Cultural Revolution feels very similar and on the same path to disaster. It can’t come soon enough to begin undoing all the damage.
John Dean says
Great point about the Cultural Revolution. I agree. And I particularly agree that reversing the damage ASAP is imperative.
Thanks for reading the piece and commenting.
Alice Barron says
I LIKE LOOKING AT PICTURES OF THE BORDER NOW….EMPTY,PLEASANT,QUIET…VERY NICE.
Ron Jordan says
It may be quiet and very nice but what will happen when you have lost all your rights as a citizen, then the border won’t mean nothing, as you will be living in the fascist country you had hoped for, right?
Gren Whitman says
Himself now knows — at least let’s hope he realizes — that when Harvard says “veritas,” it means buzz off.
John Dean says
It will be interesting to see where Trump goes from here. Harvard is not easily intimidated, and everyone I have ever met who went there is a league or two ahead of himself (Trump).
Elizabeth Clark says
What would my uncles think. They fought in WWII as did many of the heroes of our past. And recent heroes who fought against the Taliban in Afghanistan. How can the crippling of speech freedoms be what the heroes fought for. How is all of this horror making America competitive and respected in the world? How can crippling the institutions of learning…the centers of science research? Book banning? The list is horribly long. Maybe Trump did observe a tiny bit of history and is trying to beat Hitler’s time of crushing democracy. Or are these actions taken from the lessons of the Taliban? Or as Chris Gordon says, from the Cultural Revolution. I believe the border situation could have been dealt with by Congress without Trump crushing the Constitution.
John Dean says
Thank you for your comment. Well said. I’m glad my father, who fought in WWII, is not here to see the President of the United States act like a dictator.
Chris Gordon says
Elizabeth,
Thanks for mentioning my comment, and thank to Mr. Dean for all his opinion pieces. But somehow it just never feels like enough. We have to do more to end this horror show. Your family and mine need to see us to doing more. I hope the Hands Off priests were only a start and will build. Keep writing and watch for more we can do. It’s up to us.
Chris
Chris Gordon says
I meant “protests” not “priests” – autocorrect got me again
Gren Whitman says
Kent County residents are invited, nay, urged, to protest Trump and Trumpism by waving signs tomorrow (April 19) in downtown Chestertown. Start at the Democratic Club’s office at 357 High Stree at 9:00 a.m. until Noon. BTW, tomorrow is the 250th anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord.
Bil Anderson says
For the sake of brevity, let us think about the singular issue of the border and all it entails.
Congress did not need to get involved; it is a matter of the executive responsibility and authority. America did not need legislation (a congressional initiative), but a real president which was produced for us by the November 5, 2024 national election. No only has the infiltration by unvetted immigrants been dramatically reduced, but the President is making some progress in deporting illegal immigrants. At last!
John Dean says
Let me politely disagree with you on your interpretation of the Constitution. The Constitution provides for three branches of government, not one. The president has executive authority, not legislative or judicial authority. Simply put, Congress makes the laws of the land, and when necessary, courts interpret them. The president has executive authority–authority to execute the laws of the land as enacted by Congress and, as often occurs, interpreted by the courts.
On November 5, 2024, Trump was elected president, not king. The election did not abrogate the Constitution of the United States.
Chris Gordon says
My ancestors arrived here illegally in 1650. Yours probably came much later, probably illegally. We welcomed then and probably helped them. Now everyone wants to be the last ones off the boat – all who come after them are to be denied entry. By the way, immigration was way down before Trump took office.
Ron Jordan says
J.E, you see he doesn’t care what Americans think. He is his own man, what he wants, he gets. He will start a recession that only he can rescue our nation from, though he put us in this position. He utilizing all the tools and power of his office, to do what he wants, not what we want. The way out of this mess is to vote for Congressmen/women, Senators that will use the power of their collective offices to stop this. At this point everyone in his party is scared of him. Which leads me to question all politicians, is better to hold on to your office, than protect the constitution of the United States and the rule of law as that as citizens have to abide by, or not? I think/know all Republicans in the Senate and Congress are cowards!
John Dean says
I agree. As I read your comment, I watched Senator Murkowski’s retaliation comment. We live in troubled times.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Agree. Hearing the Senator from Alaska say how scared she is was brutal. But she is in a position
to make a difference, a position of authority and power. Perhaps she and her other “scared” Republicans will decide to live up to the oath they took to serve in Congress? Courageousness is
contagious! Step up for our constitution and for our citizens now. Switch to being an Independent
and caucus with the Democrats. Talk a few like minded senators to join you. Good luck!