It might be more appropriate to call it the “Trail of Tears” but that moniker described the destruction of the five civilized tribes by Andrew Jackson in the late 1820’s and their removal to Oklahoma. It is ironic that Trump’s hero was Jackson, whose imperious presidency is now the subject of revisionist historians.
In a retrospective look at Trump’s presidency, the list of pain, death and agony stretches around the globe. Here, in the USA, Trumps border policy separated hundreds of children from their parents. The administration failed to keep records of the location of the parents. As a result, hundreds of children as of this date have yet to be re-united with their parents. Trumps cruel and inhumane border policies returned many asylum seekers back to their native countries to face of death by local gangs. The United Nations even sent a team to the border over concerns of human rights abuses. Trump patronized the base with nativist behavior. In so doing, countless people have suffered.
No one can estimate the toll of Americans that have died by Trump’s denial of the COVID pandemic, politicization of masks and promotion of phony cures. An immediate response at the time of the original outbreak might have saved countless lives. As the Delta variant attacks strongholds of non-believers in the South, more needless deaths are occurring. In stunning fashion, Trump’s concern for his political future has caused the death of thousands.
The insurrection of January 6, 2021 ended in the death of five Americans. They were dying while Trump was watching TV from the White House cheering for the insurrectionists. More pain and agony for those standing in the way of Trump’s political will.
Trump’s abrupt withdrawal of troops in Syria in 2019 destabilized the region and left countless Syrian civilians to face the onslaught of Turks and Russians. There is no record of the death and dislocation of the populace, but Trump paid political tribute to his cronies, Putin and Erdogan. Again, the amount of suffering caused by Trump’s thoughtless decisions lengthens the trail.
Today the trail leads to Afghanistan. As the result of a truce with the Taliban that reminded one of Chamberlains give away to Hitler in 1938, a new era was ushered into that country, replete with hangings and a return to the Caliphate. After Trump lost the election, he reduced the troop strength in the country to 2,500, a number that was insufficient to effectively sustain a withdrawal. This observation was made in an article in the November, 2020 Atlantic by then Vice-President Mike Pence’s advisor, James Golby, regarding the situation in Afghanistan. He opined that the December withdrawal was a set up for incoming president Biden who now has to clean up the mess. The slowdown and backlog of immigrant visa application approvals contributed to the failure to evacuate Afghans loyal to the U.S. by the final departure date.
Trump, playing to the base, did what he could to stall rescue and supply efforts after hurricane Maria decimated Puerto Rico in 2017. Tens of thousands were homeless, many perishing due to lack of medical aid. As a white supremacist, Trump continued his attacks against Latin minorities. His lack of compassion for the hurricane survivors led to unimaginable consequences.
In conclusion, how many; how many people need to die or suffer from the hands of this megalomaniac for the benefit of his need for power? If re- elected, what revenge will he take on those who oppose him? What level of fear will he create for those cowardly enough to support him? Trump will bring mayhem and death to get what he wants which is Power. The proof rests in the trail of death and destruction during his Presidency. The trail of destruction is not over yet.
FW 8/27/21
American Commentary 