Trustworthiness seems to be a big issue for voters this year. Let’s talk about trust.
Donald Trump insults women, calling them “fat pigs” and “disgusting animals,” and then says, “I love women!” He brags about his affairs, “If I wrote about my love life, the world would take serious notice.” Women, especially his various wives, can’t trust him. Nor can other women’s husbands, obviously.
Trump’s business model includes not paying small contractors’ last bill when the project is finished, knowing they can’t afford to sue him. People in the business who know him call it the “Trump discount.” Business owners can’t trust him. Now he suggests that we can reduce the national debt by just not paying it. Under a President Trump, creditors around the world would not be able to trust the U.S. government.
Trump admires Vladimir Putin, suggests a withdrawal from NATO, threatens longtime allies with removal of security assistance and displays a shocking lack of understanding of the complexity of maintaining world stability. Our allies can’t trust him.
On issues of immigration, entitlements and trade, Trump inconsistently supports the Republican agenda, depending on his mood or what is expedient. Even Republicans can’t trust him. He has flip-flopped on other issues multiple times since 1999 – abortions, taxes, health care, the invasion of Iraq, gun control – we never know what he is going to say next. No one can trust him.
Trump brags, lies, insults others, shows poor judgment and doesn’t keep his commitments. How can voters trust him to be president of the United States?
CYNTHIA MUSE
Rye