Juvenile-in-chief

To the editor:

If Donald Trump wanted to know what the nation’s highest military leaders think of him, their reaction to his appearance before them — total silence — should give even Trump a hint: They don’t respect their commander-in-chief, and they were confused and angry about being dragged to a Trump “rally” from their places of serious work around the world.  

His statement that they could walk out if they chose to, but would lose their rank and military career if they did, is such a juvenile threat that they knew from the first few seconds that the meeting was just another Trump ego trip. It was also a message that he doesn’t have much respect for them or the jobs they do to protect our nation from its enemies and terrorist threats.   

It is clear that Trump is not focusing on foreign adversaries but on his domestic enemies instead: All those in our nation who criticize him or who have said or done anything, even legal and constitutional, that diminishes his image as the greatest president in United States history and (incredibly) a worthy recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.    

Trump even sought, before thinking better of it, to cut tens of millions from our federal, state and city counterterrorism agencies, jeopardizing defense to 9/11 type threats to our nation. But he wants our military leaders to help him fight Americans who would disrupt his plans to become king, like those brave cops who protected our vice president and members of Congress on Jan. 6, 2021, a riot promoted by Trump himself. 

Only a Trump-cult-supporting Supreme Court, with contempt for the constitution and the law, would permit Trump to become a dictator, immune from the balance of power, constitutional limits and legal precedent. Trump has serious mental and emotional problems, and we are all at his mercy until Republicans in Congress push back.  

Michael J. Gorman