Donald Trump’s list of enemies is growing
In 2016, Donald Trump had two principal political enemies: Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. During his presidency, he added more self-proclaimed enemies: immigrants, Muslims, the media, FBI, NATO, federal bureaucracy, eastern establishment, “deep state” and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to name a few. Then came 2020, and he included the whole electoral process in his list of enemies. Meanwhile, he has alienated many women, educators, believers in family values and military personnel. And now in 2024, having been found guilty of 34 felonies, he has declared the American judicial system as his newest enemy. At this rate, the former president will soon find himself scorned by everyone not wearing a MAGA hat.
Who will his next enemy be? Will it be you? If you are bothered by his efforts to subvert the peaceful transfer of presidential power in 2020-21 — enemy! If you do not believe that the news media is “the enemy of the people,” welcome to Trump’s enemy list. If you dare to stand up for Ukraine vs. Putin, say a kind word about Chinese or immigrants or Palestinians — enemy! And woe to you if you show your true liberal colors by advocating for inclusion and equality or by opposing censorship of books in our schools and libraries. You are now Trump’s definition of a communist or fascist.
One wonders when Trump’s allies will tire of abasing themselves to please him. When will Evangelicals sicken of excusing Trump’s tawdry behavior? And when will all of us throw up our hands in disgust at Trump’s endless self-promotion, lying, name-calling and enraged blaming of everyone other than himself for problems facing our nation?
When you look at Trump’s growing enemies list, don’t you wonder if the real enemy is, after all, the guy who is isolating himself from our Constitution, our judicial, public health and electoral systems — and you?
Ron Edgerton, Greeley