One man’s character, with all the force of law
Bronx: Last week, I witnessed on TV an action I never thought I’d see in 2025: President Trump using his prime time speech to say that Somalians have taken over the economics of Minnesota and have stolen billions and billions of dollars. This was just a few days after I saw a woman being dragged on the ground in Minnesota like an animal bagged by a hunter. It was reported that ICE agents went into Somalian restaurants demanding that folks show their papers. The appalling cruelty and indifference to human suffering by these stormtroopers and their leader is stomach-turning. Since Bull Connor and his henchmen committed these acts in the South, I never thought I would see this vile behavior again.
I think Americans must have lost their minds when they voted for a man who admitted assaulting women by grabbing them by their private parts, who uses profane language in public, and whose company had to be sued by the federal government to allow Black people to live in its apartments. He has called African countries “s---holes.” He has claimed that white South Africans were undergoing genocide therefore they were welcomed in America. He dismantled USAID, causing the deaths of numerous children and adults in Africa who were dependent on America’s aid to fight off famine, river blindness and other diseases that plague Africa and other non-white countries. He employed Elon Musk, an apartheid baby, to implement these acts.
So, to all these Hispanic and Black men who helped him win: Are you happy now? During slavery, there were members of the enslaved population who hated themselves and loved their masters. I submit that that is what’s happening today. Pauline Graham Binder
Consistent cruelty
Rockaway Park: It’s fascinating to me how many Americans are shocked or dismayed by Trump’s lack of empathy and cruel statements around the brutal murders of Rob Reiner and his wife. Trump has never exhibited an ounce of empathy or sympathy for people who disagree with his political views. He has never shown any class when acting on tragedies against people who think differently than him. That suggests that he’s a very insecure person. Confident people can agree to disagree on issues without using vitriolic language. The few times that he conveyed condolences, they didn’t seem to be sincere. His classless behavior showed its ugly face when it came to honoring Democratic and Republican politicians after their deaths. I can’t think of a past president in my 77 years who has been so disrespectful to people of both parties when they pass away. Anthony Johnson
Nowhere to sidestep
Bronx: Have you noticed that our current president blames everyone except himself? He lost the 2020 election because it was “stolen.” The economy is tanking because of the Democrats, not because of tariffs, health insurance is going up because of Barack Obama/Joe Biden, and so many other faults are because of Biden. It’s either other people’s fault or he knows nothing about it, like with the second strike on the Venezuelan boat. After a while — and you’ve been in office 11 months — it is because of your failed policies. Martin Sandok
On his whims
Valley Stream, L.I.: Once again, America’s petulant brat of a child who likes to play president when it’s convenient for him shows how immature he really is. When I first heard about his Walk of Fame to honor the presidents of the United States, I thought it was a good idea. Maybe he was learning something. But after reading all the plaques, especially some of the latest ones that obviously were written by the spoiled brat with the silver spoon in his mouth, nothing shocks me anymore. After what the man-child said about Rob Reiner and his wife last week, there is no low for this guy. He will always find a crevice to sink into to create a new low. He has no plans, only whims. He has no policies, only thoughts and concepts. Vince Sgroi
Trans obsession
Manhattan: Trump and ultraconservative Republicans will stop at nothing to deny health care to transgender children and impose their extreme ideology on parents, doctors, hospitals and states, like New York, that even the conservative majority on the Supreme Court has declared should be able to set their own rules. A rule change proposed by Health and Human Services chief RFK Jr. would deny Medicaid funds to any hospital that provides medication to minors for the purpose of aligning their physical characteristics with their core gender identity — no exceptions. This “nuclear option” would force hospitals to comply or close. It’s also a cruel and hysterical attack on a tiny minority. Only a small fraction of minors who identify as transgender receive medical interventions, often after undergoing years of assessment and counseling. For these patients, the treatments are vital for avoiding years of misery. Chris Jones
Run-of-the-mill response
Windsor, Conn.: To Voicer Joseph Beyhl: Your sophomoric response to my letter is not unexpected from a Trump supporter. Like your orange-makeup-hued hero, you blurt out one-word intended slights like “communist” and “socialist.” And like your hero Trump, I’m 100% sure you have a kindergarten-level understanding of the meaning of both words. As far as Trump not being amenable to issuing pardons to communists and socialists, I struggle to come up with the names of any communist or socialist criminals eligible to receive such pardons. I can come up with the names of convicted drug dealers, the former Honduran president for example, and violent insurrectionists carrying Nazi and Confederate flags while viciously assaulting our Capitol Police who received Trump pardons. Perhaps if I could afford to donate $1 million to the Trump family empire, I could arrange for him to issue posthumous pardons to Karl Marx and Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov. Jonathan Brewster
Nothing new
Bronx: Funny how Mayor Adams’ spokesperson, in speaking on Adams vetoing the housing bills, says the bills would sandbag Zohran Mamdani. Adams had been trying to sandbag Mamdani since the election. Richie Nagan
Keep it close
Bronx: Stop giving out to the media what you are doing to catch shooting suspects, because the suspect will see all that is going on and may evade, or in this case kill himself (“Man sought in N.E. college shootings found dead,” Dec. 19), not letting law enforcement get a chance to find out the why. Giving the enemy info is a no-no. Tell the press that this is an ongoing investigation and that is all. Media helps the bad guys get info. Jimmy Durda
Extend a hand
Manhattan: Too many people know the excruciating hell of waking up each day worrying that this might be the day a troubled loved one does something terrible. If you are open, let today’s winter solstice illuminate a way you could ease a worried heart near you. Susan Kain
Suffering is harm
Cincinnati: The Hippocratic Oath stipulates that doctors do no harm. We must understand that prolonging a life wracked by the pain of an incurable disease that has failed all therapy is doing harm if the patient, being of right mind, wishes an end. Paul Bloustein
Worthy contest
Manhattan: Re “A little taste of something” (Dec. 17): Let’s not complicate things with questions of whether the NBA Cup counts as a championship or a title, etc. We don’t ask soccer clubs to qualify their celebrations after Euro and Champions League wins versus a league championship such as the Premier League. The key point is that the NBA in-season tournament is here to stay, and it is gaining viewers. A tournament is only as good as its stars, and it’s off to a hot start with LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jalen Brunson bringing home the honors the past three years. And for what it’s worth, fans like me will call it a championship, and they should absolutely raise a banner at Madison Square Garden. Adam Silbert
Price gouged
Manhattan: Dan Goldman wants to investigate prices of hot dogs. How about investigating why there are no resident discounts for his constituents who pay $9 whenever we move our cars in the congestion zone? Joseph Duffy
