To The Editor:

One of Trump’s favorite tools for getting his way, without having to go through Congress or as a means of skirting the law, is to cry “National Security." He has used this to justify his ballroom, impose tariffs, halt offshore wind farms while calling for more drilling in the Gulf (of Mexico), as a threat against Greenland, to overrule Federal Labor rules, and to call out the National Guard against peaceful protesters. Most recently he is using it to justify his building of a massive, unpopular arch and stomping on the First Amendment by banning certain news outlets from the White House.

Ironically, it can be argued that the biggest threat to our national security is Trump himself. Our aspiring dictator loves courting real dictators. He not only rolled out the red carpet for Putin and Xi, but he also went out to personally greet them as they landed. Unfortunately for us, he comes off looking like a giddy little kid waiting for Santa. It’s embarrassing to hear him praise them as strong and powerful while he looks weak and obsequious. The United States comes off looking like the junior partner.

Trump started a disastrous war with Iran and has no good way out. Both Russia and China have been aiding Iran to attack our troops and bases, yet this does not seem to be getting through to our “high IQ” president. Instead, it is reported that he offered to sell arms to China and worked with Russia to weaken UN plans to have human review of AI targeting of military strikes. Let’s not forget this is the same guy who stored classified documents at Mar-a-logo, gutted our intelligence agencies, and gave us Hegseth and Patel.

For the most part, elected Republicans still refuse to stand up to this affront to our national security. Voting for any of them this November will not make us any safer.

33 days till November 3.

Kathy Quinn

Newtown