Seizing a man who stole a country isn’t wrong
Aiken, S.C.: For all the people who think President Trump violated the law by removing Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela, I’d say you should read up on our laws. As a former law enforcement officer, I can say you need evidence of intent to commit a crime that gives you probable cause to make an arrest (i.e. thousands of dead Americans).
I’m sick of listening to Democrats and their brainwashed supporters say that Trump illegally did a regime change, as if Maduro was elected president of Venezuela, which is ridiculous if you consider that he wasn’t elected or authorized by the voters in the country, which in my opinion makes him a low-rent criminal at best. Maduro was like a squatter who illegally took over someone’s house when they were away on vacation. He changed the locks and started dealing drugs out of the property he didn’t own, leaving the neighborhood in fear for their lives if they called the police — until a cop moved into the neighborhood and busted the squatter with the help of his department. Maduro stole a whole country, killing his detractors and making everyone live in fear. But worse, he robbed the Venezuelan people of their hopes and dreams as they try to survive under his totalitarian reign of terror.
Maduro’s indictment in 2020 by the Department of Justice was for being the head of a transnational “narco-terrorism” organization that worked with Colombian guerrillas to transport cocaine to the U.S., using the Venezuelan military for protection and distribution. If anyone believes that this miscreant is worth supporting and that Trump didn’t have probable cause, they should have their head examined. Gregory J. Topliff
Partners in arms
Howard Beach: Invade Greenland, Denmark? It’s NATO, stupid! Ernest Kienzle
Brazen bullying
Brewster, N.Y.: So our country now “runs” Venezuela and we are threatening Denmark and Greenland. How in the world can we tell Vladimir Putin that he can’t have Ukraine or take back the Baltic republics (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia)? Their territories were part of the USSR at one time (whereas Greenland and Venezuela were never part of the U.S.). How can we tell China’s leader that he can’t bring Taiwan under the control of the mainland when Taiwan was part of China (and is still recognized as such)? It seems from listening to Stephen Miller that we can bully other nations because we are a superpower. What made America great is that we were, in the words of James Earl Jones, “a global force for good.” Military might and bullying never made any country great. The current administration does not represent the America I knew growing up. Larry Maslak
Removable offense
Staten Island: When will Trump be impeached and removed from office? Now an innocent woman has been killed by an ICE agent. How much more can the American people endure from this dictator? Do we have to wait until more people are killed? To all who voted for this dictator: The blood of Renee Nicole Good is on your hands. What would you say if she was your daughter or relative? Start the impeachment process now! Jeffrey Van Pelt
Natural reaction
Ridgewood: If two men wearing masks grabbed your car door and told you to get out, what would you do? Would you think they were carjackers? Wouldn’t you try to get away before they stole your car? Isn’t that what Good did? John Sendlein
Rallying cry
Tomkins Cove, N.Y.: I sincerely hope the Democrats don’t fail to use this poor woman’s death advantageously, as the MAGAs capitalized on Ashli Babbitt’s death on Jan. 6. They need to lionize Renee Nicole Good to energize decent people to rally against the terror being funded by us taxpayers. Doug Slotolowicz
Leave us
Suffern, N.Y.: Sen. Mark Kelly, astronaut and war hero, should offer Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth the next solo moonshot — one-way. Rick Sinclair
Lawman
Dover, Del.: With all the chaos going on in our nation, it’s time to have a presidential candidate who has actual morals and principles! That being said, it’s time to have Jack Smith run for the presidency to bring our nation back to respectability. We deserve to have a law-abiding citizen who knows the rule of law as our president. Chalky White
Anti-bigotry
Bronx: Every single day since last year, I have heard antisemitism discussed ad nauseam, but not so much anti-immigrant, anti-Hispanic, anti-LGBTQ, anti-feminist, anti-poverty, anti-health insurance, or anti-racism, which I think are worse problems. My hero is Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and I really like Mike Bloomberg, who spoke to me at a senior center and really listened, but if someone dislikes Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Lin-Manuel Miranda or Angela Merkel, I don’t take it personally or make an issue of it. I’m a North American born-and-bred citizen of mixed heritage, proud of it, and I wish we could all get along without making a big deal of religion, ethnicity or race. Let us at least give Mayor Mamdani a chance to govern without accusing him of antisemitism or any other prejudice yet. Happy humanitarian 2026 to us all on Earth, and may we all prosper and be blessed. Rose Mary Lancaster
Don’t preach
Manhattan: Can we lay off the Scripture letters? They’re blasphemous, for one. They’re ridiculous, for two. I know our government and leaders have forgotten the separation of church and state, but that’s no reason for the Daily News to do it. You’re not printing Torah or Quran prayers. You’re printing foolish rants. Many letters slam our new Muslim mayor and now a sprinkle of right-wing, pseudo-Christian babbling? At least attempt to be neutral. T.S. Fallani
Fight back
Manhattan: Re “Albany should lead on clean, affordable energy” (op-ed, Jan. 7): Gov. Hochul can’t promise lower utility bills while allowing gas companies to build new pipelines that inflate our already outrageous gas service charges for years to come. She went on a fool’s errand in trying to negotiate with Trump: Empire offshore wind for the NESE fracked gas pipeline. Trump has now pulled the plug on offshore wind again, and without Hochul taking action, NESE will pump hazardous, leaking methane and unnecessary fracked gas, fouling the newly clean waters of New York Harbor. Why hasn’t New York joined other East Coast states, even Republican-ruled Virginia, to sue Trump on his cancellation? Why has Hochul stalled on the Propel transmission line from upstate to NYC, deterring solar providers from making investments in this cheap, clean fuel? Repealing the 100-foot rule helps ratepayers, but New Yorkers are still choosing between food, rent and insurance. Lisa Harrison
Eat greener
Manhattan: As world leaders gather for climate talks, one major contributor to climate change continues to be sidelined: industrial animal agriculture. While energy and transportation dominate the conversation, factory farming remains a leading source of greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, water pollution and biodiversity loss. Ignoring this reality weakens any serious climate plan. We can’t meet climate goals while leaving animal agriculture off the table. Fortunately, solutions already exist. Shifting toward plant-based foods reduces emissions, conserves water and lessens pressure on ecosystems — without requiring new technology or massive infrastructure changes. Climate action isn’t only about policy, it’s also about personal responsibility. In a world facing overlapping environmental crises, choosing meat-free meals is one of the most immediate and effective ways individuals can reduce their climate impact. If we truly care about the planet’s future, our climate conversations — and our plates — must reflect that. Nelson Yancy
Dazzling display
Camden, N.J.: In the age of unpopular decentralization, it thrilled me to witness the American patriotic style of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter show attire. Commander in chief was she. Attaining such respect, I applauded her red, white and blue concert designs. It’s in the creativity for show attire record books. Award-winning! Please, Beyoncé, as America is approaching its 250 years in existence, I ask that you consider including the City of Brotherly Love on your 2026 tour. Philadelphia would be the perfect place for an encore Cowboy Carter show. Beyoncé’s crew has mastered the art of a creative redesign of the Old Glory masterpiece. Howdy! Wayne E. Williams
