Opinion : Letter to the Editor: The Trump Report--03/16/2025

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The Trump Report--03/16/2025

First, a couple of things to clear up.

Point 1-Ever since election day when Trump won the electoral college, Trump supporters keep touting the misconception that Trump won by a landslide and no one should challenge anything he does because the voters have spoken. There is a difference between the electoral college and the raw voter total. Case in point—Trump.

See photo for chart.

Bottom Line Trump was able to win more votes in states that were necessary to win the electoral college but did not win by a landslide of votes cast. Trump has failed to win more actual votes in three tries.

Point 2- Some people have said that everything Trump is doing now is what his voters wanted. (Bear in mind that over one-half of the country voted for someone else.) Since, taking office his administration looks nothing like his campaign.

Examples: Did Trump supporters vote for a billionaire from South Africa literally taking over our government with access to the most vital information on all of us and trying to fire swaths of federal employees because, well why not?

I don’t remember Trump campaigning on annexing Canada, taking over the Panama Canal, invading Greenland, taking over the Gaza Strip and erecting a vacation resort.

Where was it in the campaign that Trump spoke about his plans to cut social security, Medicaid, probably Medicare despite saying they were off the table taking away vital services to give Trump’s billionaire buddies additional tax cuts? Do you see a pattern? Hollowing out of programs and services for those who need them the most to fund tax cuts for the rich.

When did Trump say that he was going to cozy up to Putin and turn our backs on our allies?

How can anyone say that these examples had the support of the voters when they were not even discussed during the campaign or on anyone’s radar?

This Week in Mayhem.

Trump admitted this week even though he said it numerous times, he did not really mean he could end the Ukraine war in 24-hours. He was just being sarcastic. Besides Trump himself, any rational person knew even that even a self-professed mastery of negotiation he thinks he is, dealing with Putin is not as easy as Trump thought it would be. Trump supporters again have been played by someone who will say anything to benefit himself.

The markets continued the Trump Slump. Friday’s positive gains stopped the continued market slide for the week probably buoyed by those purchasing stocks while the market is lower. Even with the uptick on Friday, for the Dow, the week had an additional loss of 941.99 pts., S & P 500 down 59.10 pts. and the Nasdaq down 172.04 pts. The Dow has lost over 2,000 pts the last two weeks and lost 4,000 pts. since Trump took office. The markets may well improve over time but right now Trump is not a good bet.

(John—how is your portfolio doing? You were doing better under Biden!)

I will give a rare compliment to Trump. This week he did tell the public that his policies including the threat and then activation of tariffs will result in economic pain and did not rule out a recession. Even though Trump inherited an economy that was moving right along, Trump himself could not blame the market losses and gloomy outlook on Biden, a rare acknowledgement from him accepting responsibility that his own policies are the reason for this economic downturn. Knowing Trump, this taking responsibility thing may not last long.

Trump/Musk stopped a program to provide food aid to schools and food banks. These cuts strike here at home affecting the Vinton-Shellsburg School District. All to give a tax cut for the wealthiest in our country.

https://www.kcrg.com/2025/03/10/school-district-reacts-potential-budget-cuts-free-lunch-program/

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/offbeat/trump-freezes-1-billion-in-food-aid-given-to-local-schools-and-food-banks-to-help-low-income-families/ar-AA1AHHXj?ocid=hpmsn

https://littlevillagemag.com/iowa-loses-11-million-on-trump-usda-cuts/

Trump turned the White House grounds into a Tesla dealership in an attempt to help Musk counter falling sales because people don’t like Musk or his cars. Trump has declared war on the media, anyone not agreeing with him, law firms that represented our country against Trump, FBI agents and others who did their jobs investigating Trump’s misdeeds. The Republican Party have said they support free speech but it appears as though it is only free speech if you agree with Trump.

Trump’s approval is slipping and people are protesting in the streets in disagreement of Trump’s policies.

The courts continue to stop the illegal firings of federal workers by Musk and Trump. But another week in chaos and damage being done to our country. Make it stop!!

Rosemary Schwartz