When racism comes from the Oval Office, silence isn’t neutral. It’s permission | Opinion
Obama video
In addition to expecting a public response regarding President Donald Trump calling for nationalized elections, now I need to hear from our federal lawmakers regarding the posts depicting President Obama and Michelle Obama as monkeys.
This quote from Forbes addresses the issue - “The White House is defending a social media clip shared by President Donald Trump that ended with a racist caricature of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt telling multiple outlets the backlash toward the video is ‘fake outrage.’”
The outrage is REAL! I hope U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, and U.S. Sens. Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell, all R-Ky., agree and will call out the racist remarks, instead of aligning themselves with the president. They should support impeachment instead of attempting to ride his coattails to Hell.
Diane Cahill, Lexington
Racist images
President Donald Trump’s posting of a video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes is so far beneath its dignity that the country has to stop and ask what we’re willing to tolerate.
This isn’t “just a joke.” It’s a racist trope with a long, violent history in this country, and everyone knows it. Pretending otherwise is an insult to the intelligence of the American public and a slap in the face to every Black American who has had to endure this dehumanizing imagery for generations.
Some supporters will shrug it off. Some will claim it’s satire. Some will insist the media is overreacting. But at a certain point, the excuses become part of the problem. When a president uses racist imagery to demean his predecessors, the burden shifts to his followers: Do you condone it, or do you condemn it?
Raising your voice isn’t betrayal. It’s patriotism. It’s the belief that the presidency should aspire to something higher than cruelty for sport. It’s the conviction that leadership should not normalize bigotry, especially from the most powerful office in the nation.
Because when racism comes from the Oval Office, silence isn’t neutrality. It’s permission.
Kathleen Pool, Lexington
Trump-class Battleships
President Donald Trump and his “Secretary of War” Pete Hegseth are planning to squander billions of dollars building a fleet of “Trump Class” battleships, without consulting Congress as required by the U.S. Constitution.
Hegseth was a part-time soldier in the National Guard for 18 years, rising to the rank of Major, and was also a correspondent on Fox News. He now thinks he knows more than the Generals who attended West Point Military Academy and the Admirals who attended the US. Naval Academy at Annapolis.
What Trump and Hegseth apparently don’t know is that in World War II the German battleships Bismark and Tirpitz, and the Japanese battleship Yamato, were all destroyed and sunk by fighter planes based on British and U.S. aircraft carriers. These were the three most powerful battleships ever built, but they had no defense against aircraft carriers with squadrons of fighter planes.
It is not surprising that Trump now wants to waste billions of dollars to put his name on a fleet of battleships that would have no chance for victory in a sea battle with aircraft carriers. His goal in life seems to be to put his name on as many structures as possible thinking it will somehow make him memorable.
Kevin Kline, Lexington
Barr’s Christianity
Andy Barr, who claims to be a good Christian, asks, “Do you know what DEI really stands for?” He answers, “Dumb, evil Indoctrination.”
DEI is not right or left, but principles to live by for those of us who seek Christian compassion for our fellow man, who value morality and the humanity of our civilization. Diversity, equity, and inclusion seek fair treatment for each other, recognizes the differences in our cultures, and promotes the idea that every man and women should have equal opportunity to participate in our society regardless of a history of discrimination and/or underrepresentation, and who may need a “hand up.” DEI represents the qualities that are the core, the foundation, of this country. Barr calls Diversity Dumb; he calls Equity (that’s equality, folks) Evil; and Inclusion indoctrination.
And this man wants to be a United States Senator, using his values to represent us.
Pre-Donald J. Trump, I used to think of Andy as good man, a good Republican. I’m so disappointed in him.
Clarke, Lexington
Offensive campaign ad
Andy Barr has checked all the boxes for the most offensive campaign ad yet. He is arrogant, racist, sexist and his claim of Christianity is questionable. His facial expression when saying the words “woke,” “diversity,” “equity,” and “inclusion” show disgust and disdain. Has he read the Declaration of Independence or the Gettysburg Address? The message I heard in this ad was, “I am white. I am male. I am Christian. If you are not a member of the elite club, you are not worthy of my representation.”
This is not the America I hope for.
Cheryl Keenan, Lexington
BARR and ICE
As U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., continues to beg for President Donald Trump’s endorsement in the Kentucky Senate race, he might try offering the president some good advice: Get rid of White House advisor Stephen Miller, now.
Miller is the one who came up with the idea in Trump’s first term of ripping immigrant children from their parents’ arms, separating them at the border. Miller is behind the current horrific immigration policies, making Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) so hated in America that pro-wrestling fans shouted obscenities against ICE during a wrestling match last week.
The president is getting very bad advice from Miller. Barr could offer the president something different. His abject servitude and loyalty to Trump have not won him the endorsement. Barr does not have Nate Morris’ personal fortune to offer, nor Daniel Cameron’s promising grassroots support. Maybe Barr could make himself the person with enough judgment and courage to speak up against ICE and Miller when others do not.
Barr may also want to offer this advice for his own political survival, regardless of any possible endorsement. Because if Trump does not fire Miller soon, Miller and ICE threaten to take down the entire GOP, Barr included. As of the time I write this, more than 65 percent of Americans agree ICE has gone too far.
Anne Chesnut, Lexington
Education funding
In 2024, 120 Kentucky counties affirmed the Commonwealth should invest in public education. The American Association of University Women (AAUW) in Kentucky supports public education and was gratified to see this outcome. We are ready to act to make that vision a reality.
State funding increases haven’t kept pace with inflation since the 2008 Great Recession. The consequences are larger class sizes, underfunded transportation that Kentucky families rely on, and widening gaps in opportunity. The funding gap between wealthy and poor school districts has grown to levels declared unconstitutional in the 1980s. Kentucky has not fully funded school transportation since 2004. Average educator salaries, inflation-adjusted, are now 20 percent lower than in 2008.
Meanwhile, Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) funding has declined by 26 percent (inflation-adjusted) since 2008. We believe in closing learning and opportunity gaps for all students through public education, inclusive curricula, STEM opportunities, and civil rights protections. We support policies that ensure equitable access to affordable and inclusive higher education.
AAUW Kentucky has joined with Protect Our Schools KY to advance a vision that champions meaningful reinvestment in Kentucky’s public schools. Please join this work and learn more about AAUW Kentucky.
Gae Broadwater, State President and Jennifer Vogel, VP & State Public Policy Chair, AAUW Kentucky
Snow removal
It was almost amusing that Susan Straub, Mayor Gorton’s communication director, used the term “Gutter Journalism” to complain about a recent article on snow removal on Mayor Linda Gorton’s street. However, her statement reflects the attitude of Washington officials who interpret Second Amendments rights and simple questions as threats. The people in my neighborhood indicate that they would be glad to have Mayor Gorton’s “gutters” prioritized if she could then get out to work on the snow-covered gutters of this town.
Madge Lynn, Lexington
Opioid addiction
Opioid use disorder is a chronic disease that has devastating impacts on communities and in 2018 over 100,000 people in Kentucky were diagnosed. Opioid addiction is a treatable disease though strict state regulations leave Kentuckians without optimal access to life-saving medications. In January 2026, two bills were introduced in Kentucky to improve access to these medications. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist that is FDA-approved and can help lead to remission.
As a physician, I have watched buprenorphine change patient’s lives. Achieving remission can allow patients to rebuild connections with family and get back to work. Counseling and medications together offer patients a chance at long-term recovery. Urge your legislatures to support HB 153 and SB 82 which will improve access to buprenorphine by removing unreasonable regulations that prohibit trained clinicians from prescribing this medication. Kentuckians should support these bills because our community members deserve access to life-saving medications.
Alyssa Lambrecht, Lexington
School snow days
Using “safety” to justify school closings doesn’t protect students; it fails them. We cannot claim to care about education without providing a dependable way for kids to get to class. It is like telling a hungry family they can’t go to the grocery store because it might rain; you aren’t protecting them from the storm, you’re just keeping them hungry.
My neighbors and I saw the damage of empty classrooms during COVID, and we will see it again if class cancellations continues. When kids aren’t in class, learning stops. This creates ripples far beyond the classroom, hurting our economy, our justice system, and the future of our Commonwealth. It’s hard to believe the district cannot afford to maintain safe bus routes during harsh weather. After all, it spent over $100,000 on administrative travel and meals. Reliable school transportation during harsh weather must be a top priority for Fayette County Public Schools and the City of Lexington.
A school bus that shows up isn’t a logistical luxury; it is vital for education to happen. In the future and for the future, Mayor Linda Gorton and Superintendent Demetrius Liggins must work together.
James A Kurz, Lexington
Edited by Liz Carey
This story was originally published February 12, 2026 at 5:30 AM.