On the day after Election Day, a person not sharing my long-standing opposition to Donald J. Trump asked me how I was feeling about the results of Trump’s election as President. The person’s question was voiced out of his genuine concern for me. It was also being asked by one who is greatly pleased by the outcome of our presidential election.
As my questioner expected, I responded by expressing my great disappointment in the outcome of the election. I admitted to feeling a sense of despair that Donald Trump would once again take up residence in the White House. I admitted to my feelings of genuine regret that as a result of Mr. Trump’s election a MAGA transition team was already at work in vetting Trump sycophants being considered for high-ranking cabinet positions.
At that point my Trump supporting questioner put his hand on my shoulder and said, “Ken, I know you are feeling bad right now. But believe me, our country has dodged a bullet by electing Donald Trump. Harris was in way over her head and would not have known what to do as president.”
In those moments it was not the time or place to debate the outcome of the election. Beside that, my disappointment in the outcome was too great and my appreciation for my questioner’s genuine concern for me mattered far more.
But since that time, I have been thinking about his comment and his belief that as a result of Trump’s election our country has dodged a bullet. I most certainly hope my caring friend is correct that a bullet has been dodged. But quite honestly, I think we have not dodged a bullet but instead suffered a grave, self-inflicted bullet wound.
President-elect Trump has said that he resonates with his key supporters who have told him that God spared his life from an assassin’s bullet in order that Trump can save America and make it great again. Trump believes that he now not only has a divine commission but also the voted affirmation of that believed divine commission by nearly 73 million and counting American citizens.
As God’s commissioned national savior now elected to office, Trump is empowered to launch his national salvation crusade. Our soon to be sworn in 47th President, will initiate his method of national redemption on day one in office and in all the days following in his four-year term.
He will save us by deporting 20 million undocumented immigrants. He will work with a supportive congress to remove false notions of separation of Church and State. He will encourage Evangelical Christian Nationalists to carry out, among other things, their Project 2025 social cleansing of our libraries, establishing religious rule, and having their way with all of us in regard to reproductive rights.
Mr. Trump’s salvation plan includes making the Justice department and our military services leadership partisan instruments. He will rid us of the non partisan United States Civil Service in place since 1883. He will replace millions of government employees now in that service only with people loyal to him.
Our American salvation will include presidentially mandated investigations and punishment of people who Trump thinks have betrayed or opposed him. He will curtail the vaccine science of the Centers for Disease Control, pardon January 6th insurrectionists, and with a sense of being God’s messiah act as President in any way he thinks best. Now with presidential immunity from any legal action, in his own words our 47th president will do these things “whether we like it or not.”
Have we really dodged a bullet in electing Donald J. Trump as the President of the United States?
I am fearful that what we have done is not to have dodged a bullet but instead only managed to shoot ourselves and cause a grave, self-inflicted wound full of all manner of yet unrealized infections.
I pray that this bullet which we have not dodged will not be fatal.