To the editor:
How is it that the current president of our great nation, Donald J. Trump, had elected to be AWOL during the recent federal government shutdown, which was the largest in our history, as he chose to decide to spend much of his time partying at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and playing golf, seemingly endlessly, while the people of our nation continued to be deprived of benefits to which they were entitled, while he personally exhibited a total lack of compassion for those who were suffering?
Also, why did this man (Trump) continue to not get more personally involved and attempt to try to work out a deal with Congress in order to finally end this most destructive situation of our government? After all, has not Trump promoted himself for decades as the greatest of all dealmakers, so, perhaps, if he had gotten personally involved, perhaps the shutdown would have ended considerably sooner?
During this most troubling period, Trump continues to egotistically promote himself, shamelessly, by personally advocating to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize; his demolishing of the historic East Wing of the White House in order to construct a ballroom, which Trump will undoubtedly name after himself; attempting to have a professional football stadium named after him; and is advocating to have a bust of him placed alongside our greatest presidents on Mount Rushmore; as well as other disturbing efforts of his self-promotion.
In addition, it is reported that Trump already has added more than $3 billion to his personal wealth since returning to office. It also has been reported that Trump's massive business ventures struggled dramatically upon his loss in the 2020 presidential election, but his net worth has reportedly increased to $7.3 billion from $4.3 billion upon his 2024 presidential election victory.
Historically, it has been mandated that any individual who assumes the U.S. presidency must divest him or herself from their business interests, placing them in a blind trust until they leave office, as all had done prior to Trump.
Based on the results of the recently completed election, it now appears that, perhaps, the U.S. electorate might well have soured on the ego-driven, would-be autocrat Donald Trump, and are, at long last, rejecting Trumpism, as well as his multitude of failed policies.
Richard Hord
Martins Ferry