Between Gaza, ‘Gulf of America,’ and Ukraine betrayal, Trump is turning truth upside down | Opinion

How do you like me now?

A couple of years back there was a country music song with the ‘hook’ — ‘How do you like me now??’ Today, with President Donald Trump wanting to make Canada the 51st state, wanting to take over Greenland, wanting to change the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America,” wanting to remove 2 million Palestinian’s off their homeland to make Gaza into a ‘beautiful riviera’, hiring incompetent people to run our government and possibly threatening our social security and other hard-earned benefits — all in just three weeks — the question to MAGA supports is — ‘How do you like him now?’

Bob Sutton, Springfield

Irrelevant Congress

The GOP Congress is a wholly irrelevant structure now and is both spineless and powerless. We are in more than a constitutional crisis — we are looking at a full-blown dismissal of democracy sponsored by transnational global oligarchs able to funnel money to whomever they choose to support as their proxy property/nation managers.

Make no mistake, the takeover of USAID is on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop American aid to Ukraine. Their pretext that they are fighting corruption belies the fact of their own more blatant corruption. Elon Musk and DOGE now have access to personal bank account information for each of us, which was accessed without any Congressional consent or due process and in violation of Fourth Amendment right to be secure in our person and affects. The GOP is complicit in this massive act of war against the American people.

Trump has already attacked our allies and threatens to attack both the EU economically and NATO. If we don’t fight this now, it will be more difficult to fight it later. Tell your congressman to protect our democracy or get out of the way.

Robert Moreland, Lexington

Issues of trust

Part of the lying and lawlessness of President Donald Trump’s administration has not yet been aired.

In 1994, as the Soviet Union broke up, Ukraine agreed to give up their large stock of nuclear weapons in return for an agreement that Russia, the United States, and Great Britain would recognize and respect Ukraine’s nationhood and borders. In 2014 and again in 2022, Russia broke its word and invaded Ukraine to seize territory. We finally came to Ukraine’s aid. Now Trump has backed out and threatened Ukraine!

The message to all the small nations of the World? You cannot trust Russia, or China… or the United States. You must develop terror weapons and a means to deliver them — to Moscow or Saint Petersburg; to Beijing or Shanghai; to Washington, or Dallas, or Miami, or New York. Never give up nuclear weapons, North Korea, or Iran. Build them, Taiwan, Japan, Viet Nam, Poland, Finland and Turkey… or Canada! If you can’t go nuclear, get biological weapons. You know now that you can never trust the government or voters of the United States, or any of the promises made by the big powers.

Glenn Rainey, Richmond

Trump Gaza

On Feb. 4, President Donald Trump — a self-proclaimed Christian — proposed that the U.S. take over the Gaza Strip, that the 2,000,000 Palestinians there be removed, that Egypt and Jordan accept those refugees, and that Gaza be developed into the Riviera of the Middle East, which the U.S. would own.

Note: The United States with a current population of 340,000,000, has accepted approximately 800,000 refugees between 2009 and 2024 — about 0.2 percent of its current population), and is not accepting any refugees now. The current per capita GDP of the U.S. is $67,254; and its current per capita wealth is $579,051.

Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, King of Jordan — a self-proclaimed Muslim -— rejected Trump’s proposal but offered to resettle 2,000 Gaza Palestinian children who are sick.

Note: In 1999 Jordan had a population of 4,500,000. In 2009, it accepted 800,000 Iraqi refugees equal to 11 percent of its population then. Between 2014 and 2019, it accepted 1,400,000 Syrian refugees equal to about 16 percent of its population then. It now has a population of 11,500,000, in a country the size of New Jersey. Current per capita GDP in Jordan is $4,065; and its current per capita wealth is $4,870.

What a world we live in!

Marilyn S. Daniel, Versailles

Defining “sex”

A few scientific definitions are in order regarding transgender issues. I’m not an expert on transgender management, but I am familiar with the distinction between sex, gender and gender identity. I have no personal dog in this fight. I’m just hoping to clarify using my limited expertise. These views are simplified to make the best effort to reach as many as possible.

“Sex” is defined by chromosomes. If a cell has a Y chromosome it’s male. If not it’s female. It’s strictly biological and is essentially binary.

“Gender” is a social construct that defines a set of behavioral roles by which a sex is expected to conform to. It is not biological, it’s man-made. It varies between different cultures and, though predominantly binary, it exhibits some flexibility.

“Gender identity” is yet another entity. It is an individual internal perception of how one conforms to gender expectations. It expresses as a bimodal spectrum that usually aligns quite well with sex but not always. It appears to be neurobiological in origin.

I hope my view helps more than it confuses. It’s not biology 101.

John Vance, Versailles

Protect CFPB

I urge everyone to defend the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB. Elon Musk and DOGE are trying to dismantle it because it protects everyday people like us from billionaires like him.

The CFPB has recovered over $21 billion for consumers who were scammed or cheated by big business. Big business doesn’t like that. They want to get rid of the CFPB.

This vital agency was created after the 2008 financial crisis to keep the same thing from happening again. Do you want to go back to 2008 and let the big banks rip us all off again, and get millions in government bailouts for doing so? I sure don’t.

Please write to your Congress members and ask them to defend the CFPB.

Cassandra Lyons, Lexington

Free film

Distortion is the mother’s milk of politics,and, despite the existence of provable truths, those that should be long-weaned, never are.

The US House, whose members continuously fret about the national debt and yearly budget deficit, passed a budget that adds nearly three trillion dollars to the deficit. Instead of correcting Congressional distortions in this letter, I encourage Herald-Leader readers to come to the Farish Theater at 4:00 on Thursday March 6 for a viewing of “Finding The Money,” a film by Maren Poitras. “Finding The Money,” based in part on Stephanie Kelton’s “The Deficit Myth,” defines and clarifies topics like the national debt, the budget deficit, and why Social Security and Medicaid, in fact, can’t run out of money. The film is free and open to the public and addresses subjects critical to public welfare.

Todd Kelly, Lexington

Barr accessibility

I had to laugh when I read the quote from Rep. Andy Barr’s, R-Ky., spokesperson Tyler Staker, claiming that Barr is “accessible” to his constituents.

Baloney. Barr is about as accessible as the South Pole in mid-winter. When have you ever seen Barr out in public talking to constituents?

A better word for him might be “aloof.”

With the recent release from prison of hundreds of violent January 6 political terrorists, Barr has some ‘splainin’ to do. He needs to be talking to us, the people - not just his friends in the big banking Industry.

Dave Cooper, Lexington

Barr votes

U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., votes for a budget that benefits the wealthy and corporations and reduces Medicaid so the rest of us have less access to healthcare. The Republicans can SAY that the states can take over these necessary benefits to people who can’t afford health care any other way, but Barr knows that is unrealistic. Kentucky, as well as other rural, poor and red states will suffer.

But Barr needs to keep President Donald Trump on his side so he can run for U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell’s, R-Ky., senate seat with Trump’s approval, right? It is a shame that his constituents, country, and OUR constitution means so little to him that he allows Trump and Elon Musk to run over legal and moral guardrails.Shame!

Lynda Matusek, Lexington

Civics lesson

In a representative government, those who are elected pledge to work for the good of their district and constituents. With this in mind, I contacted U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., voicing my concerns about the chaos in Washington during the first month of the Trump administration. Rather than answering my questions, he gave me a review of high school civics explaining the separate but equal branches of government, balance of power, and checks and balances.

I learned that in high school as well, but I am alarmed at the current absence of these constitutional protections. Rather than checking the power of the executive branch, the legislative branch is enabling this president who likens himself to a King. With the GOP majority in all branches of government, the checks and balances are nonexistent. They rubber stamped the confirmation of unqualified cabinet members and have allowed the Department of Governmental Efficiency under the direction of Elon Musk to wreak havoc indicating they have abandoned their oath of office.

They swore an oath to defend the Constitution from enemies both foreign and domestic. If there is no longer honor or integrity in Washington, God help the U.S.

Cheryl Keenan, Lexington

Flooding continues

A recent headline asked, “Should we stay, or should we go?” As a transplant from near the Cumberland River, I am sad to say that I think those folks who are able to go should go.

The region is not going to stop flooding every year like this until climate change is stopped and reversed, and nobody sees that happening. The U.S. Armed Forces consider climate change a primary threat to our country. It is as real as those floodwaters, so get out of denial and get busy adapting.

There are small towns and cities across Kentucky that will welcome the hardworking business folks, the honest shoppers, and fellow Kentuckians.

Susan Bell, Lexington

Ten Commandments

Don’t you find it humorous that Republicans in our state legislature are submitting bills to have the Ten Commandments posted in our schools while they support a man in the highest office in our country who has broken many of them? Perhaps they should be posted in the Oval Office as a daily reminder. Of course, he will think that they don’t apply to him!

Barbara Plymale, Lexington

FCPS cuts

I have noticed classes involving the arts being shut down within Fayette County Public Schools.

When public school funding is lowered, arts programs are the first thing to get cut. We continue to take from their funding without thinking about how little they have left. Arts programs aren’t a want or a waste of funding but a necessity for everyone. Art programs within schools are exceptionally important in the way that people gain new perspectives and discipline. It lowers stress and enhances children’s focus and mentality during the school day. Students participating in art programs are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement.

I have been a part of the Tates Creek Middle School Band for almost three years now and gained many new skills. Band has been a time for expression and that experience helped me get through my work each day. I encourage everyone to write your elected officials about supporting and fully funding the art classes or programs in your local public schools.

Jack Hauser, Lexington

Edited by Liz Carey

This story was originally published February 27, 2025 at 6:00 AM.