Sigh!
Indeed, there is nothing new about President Donald Trump violating diplomatic norms and sowing discord. Nor is there anything new about the president clumsily embracing authoritarianism — or the fact that his supporters consider these traits to be features rather than bugs.
If we commented on every instance of Trump’s infantile grandstanding, we would be exhausted. In fact, we are exhausted by his incompetence, churlishness and poor leadership; we just do not feel compelled to editorialize about every failing, a list that is unmatched in presidential history.
So, we pick and choose our criticisms. Our praise, as well (yes, The Columbian has written editorials praising various actions by President Trump, even if his supporters are reluctant to recognize it). Foolishness such as recommending that people ingest disinfectants is not worth our time nor yours, but Trump’s comments Tuesday warrant a retort.
During a press availability session with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, Trump suggested that bailout money for states and municipalities dealing with the coronavirus pandemic could hinge on whether their immigration policies align with the administration’s priorities.
“We’d have to talk about things like sanctuary cities,” Trump said. “I think it’s one of the problems that the states have. I don’t even think they know they have a problem, but they have a big problem with the sanctuary situation.”
Sigh!
In the middle of a global crisis, one that has killed about 60,000 people in this country and which should bring all Americans together, President Trump brought up a favorite policy issue that has nothing to do with the disease. It was the domestic equivalent of, “I would like you to do us a favor, though” — the sentence that helped lead to his impeachment.
The president also indicated he is open to only some states receiving federal assistance for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Mind you, these states are dealing with soaring health care costs, raging unemployment and cratering tax revenue. “I think there’s a big difference with a state that lost money because of COVID and a state that’s been run very badly for 25 years,” Trump said.
In the president’s mind — and the minds of reality-averse Republicans — that means states that lean Democratic. And it echoes the position staked out last week by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who complained about the prospect of bailing out “blue states.”
For the record, McConnell’s home state routinely receives more in federal funding than it provides in tax payments; Kentucky has been “bailed out” by Washington, New York, California and other states for years.
For the callous among us, Trump’s threat to withhold relief funds might seem reasonable as a means to an end. But what if a Democratic president threatened to withhold money unless states enacted strict gun-control measures? What if a Democratic-controlled Senate told red states that are not carrying their weight to default on their loans?
Such actions were unthinkable before the Trump presidency. While political divides are as old as the union itself, Americans always have managed to find common ground when necessary. We always have pulled together in times of crisis, relying on competent leadership to maintain a focus on shared national goals.
Trump did not single-handedly undermine that focus; he is but a symptom of a national disease. And we are all the worse for it.
Sigh!
