To the Editor:

The predictable situation in Ukraine is more proof that Putin is and has been playing Trump all along. Trump’s assertions
that the Russian war would not have occurred had he been president, and that Trump would “end it in one day,” were always
tragically laughable. FYI Trump and Rubio: no negotiator “walks away from” a negotiation; the negotiation fails.

It is difficult to know where to begin in reporting Trump II’s endless threats to the founding principles of our
constitutional republic. Despotic government was a constant Trumpian theme in the 2024 campaign, by way of “joking” or
“gaslighting,” or pronouncement of matters so outrageous that many voters wrongly dismissed them as entertaining hyperbole.
Project 2025 was “irrelevant.”

In an hour-long interview with Kristen Welk on Meet the Press, Trump shrugged off questions about the tariffs and predicted
shortages, called her “dishonest” for asking, and admitted that when the economy is good, it is a “Trump economy,” but “the
bad parts are the Biden economy.” When asked whether as president, he must uphold Due Process, Trump replied, “I don’t know.
“I’m not, I’m not a lawyer. I don’t know”, though presumably he can read. What he means is that he doesn’t give a damn what
the Constitution says or what the Courts order, and he believes that his voters will stick with Fox and so won’t notice or
care until it’s too late.

There are other signs of Trump’s growing self-delusion, and I say this with a certain level of compassion. He presents
himself on Trump merch, and published on Truth Social last weekend, an AI-generated picture of himself as a young, hyper-
masculine conqueror in a heroic pose, brandishing a light saber. It’s pathetic, needy, and juvenile, and this man is the
president. He also insisted that the US won WWs I and II, almost single-handedly. It’s an ignorant and false statement and
again, from our president, who reflects us to the world.

Trump II’s grandiosity has exploded. Plans for serving a third term. Multimillion-dollar parades as the country faces a
likely recession, tarting up the Oval with gold everything, announcing opening Alcatraz after watching a movie. “I was
supposed to be a moviemaker,” Trump said. “It represents something very strong, very powerful in terms of law and order …
Alcatraz is, I would say, the ultimate. Sing Sing and Alcatraz, right? The movies.”

Less than two weeks after Pope Francis’ death, after having “joked” to reporters on the WH lawn that being Pope “would be my
number one first choice,” the WH posted an AI-generated picture of Trump as Pope, in white, with miter and large crucifix.
He denied responsibility (as usual), but claimed it was done “in fun,” and, “Catholics loved it.” By now, it’s apparent
that his “joke” meter is just as broken as his “truth” and “decency” meters.

Trump is giving us every reason to be concerned about his capacities, faculties, judgment, and intentions for our country.
He believes he “runs the nation and runs the world!” A USA Today article recently called for Trump to, “actually pay
attention to reality.” But he is a lifelong illusionist who has little interest in anyone else’s reality.

Kelly Scoles,

Fillmore, Ca.