Threats to an ally reveal our depth of decline
Manhattan: Of all the disturbing and counterproductive pursuits of the Trump administration, the belligerent pursuit of Greenland is perhaps the most harmful. It’s a clear case of an egocentric leader merging national policy with his own vanity, and doing so at the cost of the public interest. This represents a breakdown in checks and balances, and a lack of political courage on the part of Republicans to constrain a rogue president.
It is also a test of the MAGA movement — is it a hollow vessel filled only by a cult of personality, satiated by whatever the dear leader wants, or is there some fundamental ideology? President Trump’s appetite for expansionism, channeling the most destructive impulses of Vladimir Putin, comes amid his “One Big Beautiful Bill” that cut funding for Medicaid. I think many Americans — particularly those who subscribed to the original iteration of MAGA, born of the failures of Iraq and Afghanistan — will be asking themselves why the U.S. is offering large sums to every Greenlander while implementing austerity on the most disadvantaged Americans.
Further, this speaks to the fickle nature of American national character. Denmark is a founding member of NATO, an organization built not out of charity but to protect American interests. And Denmark fought alongside the U.S. in Afghanistan and Iraq.
When you have friends like the United States, who needs enemies? This is a betrayal that can not be quickly forgotten. Daniel Dolgicer
We’re all his subjects
Ozone Park: We elected a president who would and has taken action to eliminate all illegal immigration, bring law and order and establish the U.S. as a leader, not a partner, in the Free World. Trump said himself that there is no limit on what he chooses to do. Only his morality dictates his boundaries. Voters who now think, “Well, I didn’t feel he would go that far” will have to live with his actions along with everyone else. Ray Hackinson
Protest thee, not me
Brooklyn: So the president threatens Iran with punishment for arresting and killing protesters who only want freedom and an affordable life. Here in the U.S.A., he puts a target on the backs of protestors who want laws and civil rights followed and not the Gestapo tactics now occurring. Not OK to kill unarmed Iranian citizens but OK to kill unarmed American citizens. We are now one step away from martial law. We are becoming a Third World country. It’s becoming less and less than the country I voluntarily served for. Sad. Greg Ahl
Agent’s ideology
East Orange, N.J.: During the investigation of Renee Good’s shooting by ICE agent Jonathan Ross, questions should be asked about his state of mind before the shooting: How did he feel about the defiance shown by Good and her wife Rebecca? How does he feel about same-sex marriage? Why did Good say, “I’m not mad at you” to another agent before she was shot by Ross? We all have opinions on what happened, but hopefully, with a fair and impartial investigation, we can find the truth. Ellen Moxley
Law applies to enforcers
Brooklyn: If the actions of the ICE agent who killed Renee Good are a reflection of the training he received from DHS, then there’s an even bigger problem than I thought. I don’t know of any law enforcement training that instructs that it’s OK to be recording a video on your cell phone with your gun drawn, while in the middle of an action involving active shooting and firearms. It’s just ridiculous and negligent. No matter what the circumstances, ICE is no more sacrosanct than any other law enforcement agency, and there’s no death penalty for civil disobedience. Wanda Peakes
Engineered threat
Manhattan: I would like to nominate Voicer Nick Di Pasquale for this year’s Voicer Bob Pascarella Award for Trump toadyism. When it comes to Trump, both suffer the same deficit: They look but do not see (Matthew 13:13). Nick excuses the killing of Renee Good for blocking traffic, but the videos clearly show that traffic was going around her. As for trying to kill the ICE agent, who was initially standing in front of her car in violation of police training, ICE training and common sense, his feet were away from her car but he was leaning over her hood. Did he think that would stop her car? And then he moved to the side of her car and shot her twice more when she was clearly trying to drive away from him. Even Jesse Ventura had the common sense to label this as murder. Alec Pruchnicki
Unfriendly audience
Midland Park, N.J.: To Voicer Nick Di Pasquale: Shouldn’t you have written those comments to the N.Y. Post? Anthony Merlino
Agents provocateurs
Staten Island: I can’t help but wonder exactly how many Proud Boys are ICE agents. Recent over-the-top aggression against American citizens like Renee Nicole Good lead me to this frightening question. I think most Americans would be interested to know the numbers and have a right to this information. It would explain so much. Kenn Settanni
Rest stop resupply
Hillsdale, N.Y.: Our new mayor is having additional restrooms installed throughout the city. I read that they are self-cleaning, which is great, but will they also be self-supplied with soap and toilet tissue or must one bring their own supplies? Oh, by the way, I purchased an OMNY card for the bus, but if the buses are free, can I return the card since I don’t use the subway anymore? Phil Antico
Harsh realities
Astoria: What Mayor Mamdani needs to do is stop watching prison flicks and go do an eight-hour tour of Rikers Island. He’ll see for himself that there is no solitary confinement. It’s called punitive segregation, and it’s needed to protect not only officers and staff but mostly the inmate population from the inmates who can’t be controlled. When he witnesses how those bad seeds slash their fellow detainees or spit and toss urine and feces on the staff, maybe he’ll realize that he never saw this movie, which is pure reality. Aris Sakellaridis
Loyal to constituents
Manhattan: Rep. Hakeem Jeffries is a hero for pushing through to victory the bill to extend the ACA tax credits for three years. Seventeen Republicans, including Long Island Reps. Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota, plus Westchester/Rockland Rep. Mike Lawler, broke with MAGA House Speaker Mike Johnson to restore affordable health care coverage to more than 20 million Americans. Many families with desperate health needs have already signed up for plans at double and triple the rates. Now the bill faces the Senate, where enthusiasm for meeting constituents’ needs is not so keen. Sen. Chuck Schumer, who folded and lost our health care last time, needs to be an actual leader and make the GOP understand that they’re shooting themselves in the foot voting against this bill. The GOP is experienced at undercutting themselves, but Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins could pave the way for others who can be pulled off the fence. Laura Tavormina
Different biology
Ridgewood: I consider myself very liberal on most topics. However, the reality is that those born male have physical strengths that those born female do not. Given that reality, I think it unfair to suggest that somehow transgender women have the same (lesser) abilities as natural-born females and should therefore be allowed to participate equally in sports. It makes no sense to me. L. Tuthill
Absent allies
Rye Brook, N.Y.: To Voicer Mike Caggiano: Since the Arabs caused the Palestinian refugee problem by starting wars of 1947 and 1948, it was incumbent upon the Arab countries to absorb the refugees. Israel absorbed as citizens 800,000 Jewish refugees driven out of Arab countries. The Arabs deliberately placed the Arab refugees and their descendants in refugee camps as pawns in the propaganda war against Israel. In 1952, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency set up a fund of $200 million to provide homes for the refugees, but not a single house was constructed. There was no Security Council resolution directing Israel to accept the return of Palestinian Arab refugees. Demes Poulos
