An open letter to supporters of President Elect
Trump.
This will be a long read so I hope you can stay with me to the end.
I have noticed the elation of many of his supporters and followers on this platform.
There are a few things that I have been grappling with and trying to understand since his first election back in 2016. I’ve spent several sleepless nights trying to figure things out but I’m at a complete loss. Anything that I mention here is easily searchable. Let’s start at the beginning. Mr. Trump learned the business of real estate development from his father from whom he inherited 400 million dollars. He was sued for refusing to rent to people of color. I believe he has been involved in litigation approximately 4,000 times. Many of the suits were settled by him having to pay millions of dollars. One of the better known cases was the “Trump University” case where the students complained that they had been swindled by false promises. He settled by paying out several million dollars. Many of his subcontractors claimed that they were never paid. He claimed that he didn’t like the way the job was done so he didn’t pay. In his business career he has filed for bankruptcy six times. A New York court found his company liable for tax fraud and lying to banks to obtain loans. In that case he was directed to pay 400 million dollars and the company is suspended from doing business in the state. He was a struggling business man when CBS approached him and propped him up as a successful businessman to star in The Apprentice. Mr. Trump became a celebrity and made a lot of money from that. The Trump charitable foundation was dissolved by the courts for fraud. In one case, a portrait of Mr. Trump was auctioned and donated money was used by one of the staffers to buy it for Mr. Trump to keep.
He has bragged on tape about sexually assaulting women; “When you’re famous they let you do it”. He has been accused of sexual assault by 27 women. He cheated on his pregnant wife with an adult film star as well as a Playboy bunny. One of his accusers, E. Jean Carroll sued him for defamation after he trashed her in the media. The judge stated that not only did he defame her but according to New York State law he was also guilty of raping her. In this case he owes 88 million dollars. He is constantly insulting women. Just this week be called the former speaker of the house the “B” word. His insults are not limited to women. He comes up with nasty and belittling nicknames for his political opponents. “Crazy Nancy”, “Shifty Schiff”, Little Marco”, “Low Energy Jeb” etc. Remember the school yard bullies? People that he has attacked on social media platforms keep receiving death threats.
He began his political career by spreading conspiracy theories about our first president of color, Barack Obama claiming that he wasn’t born in America. Then he descended his golden escalator proclaiming that Mexico wasn’t sending us their best. They were sending criminals and rapists. Then the onslaught on insults to immigrants began; and this while standing on land stolen from the indigenous population by undocumented Europeans. Immigrants of color came from s…hole countries. Hispanics are breeders. He called them vermin. Immigrants are poisoning the blood of our country. Haitians are eating the pets of their neighbors in Springfield Ohio? Immigrants are trash that other countries are throwing away making America a trash can and so on. He had dinner with a Neo-Nazi white supremacist at Mar-I- Lago. Did you forget about his Muslim ban? On day one of his next administration he’s going to round up and deport 11 million undocumented immigrants. Imagine being in a family of children who were born here and may have one or two undocumented parents. How would you be feeling right now? Can someone tell what that’s going to look like?
His former chief of staff, General Kelly said that Trump told him that soldiers who died in war were “suckers and losers;” this while talking to a man who had lost his son in a war. He said that he didn’t like POWs like John McCain because they got caught. You couldn’t be a hero if you got caught. He also stated that he wanted to call retired General Milley who was the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff during his administration back to active duty so he could court martial him and possibly have him executed for disagreeing with him. He also stated that he would use the military to round up his political “enemies.” He constantly belittles our leaders while praising dictators and strongmen like Putin of Russia, Kim Jong-Un of North Korea and Ergoğan of Turkey. He has mentioned suspending the constitution and letting Putin “do whatever the hell he wants” if NATO countries don’t pay up. He is constantly spouting hate and violence; “Beat the hell out of them, I’ll pay your legal bills.” Many of the generals that served in his administration and many of his hand picked senior staffers stated that this man is not fit to serve as president and should never be let into the oval office again. Many of his top advisers have been convicted of crimes and have served jail sentences. Quite a few of his lawyers have been disbarred. He sent an angry mob to the Capitol to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power. His followers stormed the Capitol where they beat police officers with American flags. They ransacked the building destroying property and defecating in the halls. One of his followers and a police officer died. Several others committed suicide days after. Over one hundred officers were injured and some are still feeling the effects. Many of his followers have been convicted and are serving long sentences; some of them for over twenty years. He claims that they are political prisoners or hostages and will pardon them and release them as soon as he gets back into office. What happened to the party of “law and order?” I could go on but I’m getting exhausted as I’m sure you are if you have followed me to this point. Again, everything here is verifiable and that’s why I’m so confused. Why would people celebrate and support a man who has convicted of 34 felony counts and is awaiting sentencing and want him in the most powerful job in the world? Ask anyone who has a felony conviction how hard it is to get a job. In closing, let me ask you a few questions: If you have sons, grandsons or brothers, would you like them to aspire to be like this man? If you admire, celebrate and support him, what does that say about you? Do you share the same feelings? Or is it that you choose to look the other way because you think that somehow he will make your life better? To me he is racist, misogynistic and xenophobic. Is there something I’m missing? Some of you that I know personally and care about support him. Do you understand why I’m so confused? I hope that the Creator that you believe in enlightens and guides you. As my indigenous ancestors would say: Seneko kakona (abundant blessings)
