Independent’s Sean O’ Grady open letter

I'd like to congratulate you on your beautifully written essay, ""There are strong grounds to be hopeful about Donald Trump's presidency—even for liberals." Furthermore, I would like to commend you on the enthusiastic and informative manner in which you express your views on whether you think there are compelling explanations why a Trump presidency would be a promising prospect.

You argue that the strategies advocated by the current President of the United States may succeed, that his version of Reaganomics may be just what the US needs, and that the possibility of a détente with Russia will, in effect, make the planet a better place for all (Grady, 2017). You vividly argued the facts that your beliefs are based on. You acknowledged the weaknesses that are without a doubt inherent in the U.S. President. Your approach to the subject can only be commended. You create hope for the American citizen who may not be as confident in the President and on this point, I do agree with you.

However, we must all be willing to be open and honest, not only on an individual level but also on a national level with regard to the direction we would like this great country to take. Granted, we all agree that Donald Trump is unlike any other politician this great country has ever seen. Whether this is a good or bad thing remains to be seen. While we all have varying tastes and preferences about the kind of leader we prefer. However, the tendency for the current president to be an indifferent individual with a seemingly endless affinity for causing divisions and consternations which undoubtedly spells doom for the very values and pillars this great country is built on (Matthews, 2017).

As such, I am compelled to take exception some of the issues that you highlighted in your article. I am of the opinion that we have to be totally honest. Trump's ascendancy into power came primarily on the back of one of the most hotly contested elections ever seen in the United States in the recent past. Needless to say, Trump's campaign was rife with numerous gaffes which would at any other time destroyed his chance of ever rising to assume the presidency. His candidacy, alongside that of Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential candidate was an eye opener of just how divided the country is at the moment (Matthews, 2017). It would not thus be far-fetched to conclude that the only reason that Donald Trump managed to rise to power owed much to the steep divisions that were rife in the country's populace. According to (Matthews, 2017), when Donald Trump assumed the mantle of president-elect, he did so with the lowest approval ratings for any incoming president never seen since 1977. This alone ought to point to the low approval ratings the sitting president enjoys.

The argument that the media has a "tendency to hyperventilate when confronted with something unpredictable and unfamiliar whether on the right or left," may be true on other issues (Grady, 2017). However, Trump's actions since he assumed office, only point to the contrary. In this case, Trump is the aggressor and his blatant continued attacks on the media point to a deeply entrenched inability to contend with criticism. Since he took over power, Trump and his administration have been waging relentless attacks on almost everything, on objective reality, not to mention those individuals tasked with describing it, in this case, the mainstream media. Matthews (2017) notes that in his first month in office, Trump’s tumultuous beginning of his reign served to widen the existing gulf between his lavish self-conception and how he is painted by the mainstream media. Consequently, this chasm between his viewpoint and that portrayed in the media has only yielded unending attempts to annul the Fourth Estate. This points to serious character flaws, an inability to handle criticism which should not be the case. For the president of the greatest nation on earth, it should be expected.

Your observation that also serves to encourage your readers to acknowledge the fact that Trump is an independent political force who would not bow down to any form of political conventions and political parties does not justify his brashness and total disregard for basic social conventions (Grady, 2017). I live at a strange intersection of being an individual who has seen the extremes of Donald Trump at his worst. Having attended some of his rallies, pre, and post-inauguration, I am convinced that a Donald Trump presidency would be anything but a unifying factor. During his campaign period, he proposed the enactment of an immigration policy that can only be termed as xenophobic. In addition to building a wall along the border with Mexico, Trump intends to make it harder for refugees seeking asylum to get into the country (Trump, 2016). Furthermore, his ‘America first policy' which was hailed by some is counterproductive. Not only does it set diplomatic gains made over the years back, but his anti-Muslim stance is also consternating (Trump, 2016). After appending his signature to the much-maligned travel ban barring Muslims from select countries from entering the United States. Needless to say, the implementation of the travel ban was botched at best owing to the confusion that accompanied its implementation.

As a leader, Donald Trump is expected to lead from the front, become a unifying factor both at home and abroad. While Donald Trump may mean well, his application is wanting. While you conclude that Trump's policies are geared towards increasing the welfare of the middle-class, the truth is that this is a flawed notion. As the president, he should be the president to all the citizens of the United States including the down-trodden who need Obamacare and welfare support the most. For these reasons, dear Sean, the cause for optimism over Trump's presidency is nothing but a mirage, at least for now.

Sincerely,

(Name)

Address

References

Grady, S. (2017). There are solid reasons to be optimistic about the presidency of Donald Trump. The Independent. Retrieved from http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/donald-trump-inauguration-white-house-president-optimistic-russia-economy-reasons-cheerful-a7531596.html

Matthews, D. (2017). Donald Trump’s presidency is going to be a disaster for the white working class. Vox. Retrieved from http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/11/9/13572172/donald-trump-white-working-class

Trump, D. (2016). Transcript: Donald Trump’s Foreign Policy Speech. The New York Times, 27.