Log in Subscribe

A few of our stories and columns are now in front of the paywall. We at The Chief-Leader remain committed to independent reporting on labor and civil service. It's been our mission since 1897. You can have a hand in ensuring that our reporting remains relevant in the decades to come. Consider supporting The Chief, which you can do for as little as $3.20 a month.

Trump's influence

Posted

To the editor:

Less than six months after he took office, I wrote “It is terrifying that his (Donald Trump’s) presidency emboldens white supremacists and that hate crimes have soared since the election.” 

Still, I could not envision just how bad things would become in a post-Trump America.

Many have cited Trump as the inspiration for their crimes. In a May 30, 2020, ABC News piece, Mike Levine cited 54 specific acts of violence in which the perpetrators named Trump in official records.  

Then, there was the granddaddy of them all — January 6, 2021.

Instead of taking stock and calling out the danger the MAGA movement poses following the attack on Paul Pelosi, GOP leaders are denying any political connection, blaming “both sides” or worse, making jokes about the crime. While there have been a few crimes committed by left-wing extremists, the overwhelming majority of the political violence is coming from the far right.  

Ironically, the GOP leaders downplaying the rash of violence perpetrated by their supporters are the same ones campaigning to “save America” from rising crime.  No public policy, set of laws or legal practices has done more to spur violence than has Donald Trump.  

He turned tens of millions of ordinary Americans into common thugs willing to commit crimes from breaking and entering to terrorism, kidnapping and murder — all in the name of “patriotism.” When Rosa Parks said “one person can change the world,” I doubt she had Donald Trump in mind.          

Joseph Cannisi

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here