‘Trump’s America will decline’

Dear Editor:

For the past 80 years, the United States has been universally recognized as the “Leader of the Free World.” America’s entrance into World War II saved Europe – and most of the civilized world – from the fascist, autocratic domination of Hitler and his Third Reich. Since then, democracies the world over have looked to the U.S. for support, guidance and defense. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dreamed of a United Nations organization which would truly make WWII the war to end all wars. Once the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed, the western world had an alliance that would ensure security and peace for all members. Article 5 assured these nations that an attack on any one country would be an attack on all, and the NATO alliance would respond with force. Article 5 has only been enacted once, when our allies came to our aid after the 911 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

But this framework for peace, which kept us safe and preserved post WWII borders, is now threatened. In the past two weeks, we have watched Vice President J.D. Vance rudely lecture European leaders on democracy, condemning them for not listening to right wing points of view. For years we have heard President Donald Trump question NATO’s Article 5 – during his first term he actually offered up our allies to Russia if they didn’t pay their share of the NATO defense pledge. We have watched the Trump administration pivot away from the free democracies of Europe toward the authoritarian regimes Ronald Reagan called the Axis of Evil. At the UN last week, on the third anniversary of the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. voted against the resolution condemning Russia and demanding the immediate withdrawal of forces. Our NATO allies and other free democracies all voted to condemn Russia, in support of Ukraine. We were joined in our opposition by the leaders of authoritarian regimes: Russia, Hungary, Belarus, North Korea, Nicaragua, Haiti and more.

In a few short weeks, America has lost the prestige and world influence awarded the Leader of the Free World. Trump has allied with Vladimir Putin, an autocratic, murderous dictator, abandoning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, cutting off all military aid, announcing the end of shared intelligence, and insulting Zelensky in an embarrassing Oval Office set-up. The Ukrainians will fight bravely on. The Europeans will take over as “Leader of the Free World.” Trump’s America will decline.

Trice Hufnagel, 

Bailey