LETTER: Trump’s act: Bible as a prop, a threat as tough-guy routine

To Ozaukee Press:

The events of June 1 at the White House were disheartening and disgusting.

At approximately 6:30 in the evening, Donald Trump wanted to have his photograph taken. There were several hundred peaceful protesters in Lafayette Square across from the White House when Trump unexpectedly and unannounced ordered his security force to clear the park. They fired rubber bullets, tear gas and flash-bang grenades at the crowd of innocent protesters taking advantage of their First Amendment rights.

Trump and his entourage walked through the park to St. John’s Church, where Trump held up a Bible as a prop and waved it around for the cameras, and then walked back to the White House.

That was totally ridiculous, but Trump’s comments in the Rose Garden shortly before his photo op were frightening. He actually threatened the American people that he would use our own military against us. Can you imagine the U.S. Army driving down our streets in armored vehicles, firing on American citizens?

With his menacing scowl, this wanna be authoritarian was trying his best to perfect his tough-guy routine.             

It was unsettling to watch this type of behavior from an American leader. With the triple crises of Covid-19, an ailing economy and the ongoing protests over the death of George Floyd, Trump is out of his depth.

With our very Democracy at stake, Americans must rally together. We must reform our criminal justice system and our health care system. We must combat climate change. We must make it easier to vote, not harder. The Trump administration is off the rails. We must get our nation back on track.

James Korthals
Cedarburg