President Trump
As a supporter of Secretary Clinton, I feel it’s important to state that it is our duty as Jews and Americans to pray for President-elect Trump and his success. May he merit divine inspiration and bring together our nation.
Elections are sacred and the moment they’re over we are united under the leadership of the president-elect.
Ezra Friedlander, CEO
The Friedlander Group
Guarded Hope
As readers may recall, over the past year I’ve had several letters published by The Jewish Press that have been highly critical of Donald Trump.
Like a great many people, I was stunned with the outcome of the election. I try to be optimistic and I hope the gracious remarks Trump made in his victory speech and after his meeting with President Obama will signal a more reasonable approach to what our country needs.
But before he can make America great again, as he puts it, he needs to make himself better by focusing on his strengths (amazing stamina, for one) and minimizing his hurtful, outlandish, and at times bizarre statements. I hope the gravity of the office will bring out the best in him and he will surround himself with good people.
Alan Howard
Brooklyn, NY
Who’s The Real Trump?
A mere week into Donald Trump’s new role, the president-elect appears to have already turned his back on his supporters.
Over the past year, Trump relentlessly marketed himself as the straight shooter who boldly speaks his mind to power, the non-politically correct warrior fighting for the common man.
This was perhaps most exemplified by his persistent refrain denigrating our current president as a “disaster,” “the most ignorant president in history,” “the worst president in history,” “the founder of ISIS,” and “a catastrophe.”
Yet two days after the election, during their first-ever meeting, Trump sat timidly with Barack Obama, lauding the president as “a very good man,” one whom he has “great respect for,” and from whom he would seek “counsel.”
Has Trump so swiftly revealed himself as someone who will meekly buckle to power when he’s no longer on stage performing his bravado act to his fawning supporters?
Who is the real Trump?
Is he a courageous alpha male who fearlessly speaks his mind, or just another politically correct sycophant who’ll say whatever is convenient at the moment?
It is important to stress that Trump’s behavior at his meeting with Obama had nothing to do with civility or “the smooth transition of power.” Obama was civil, but not disingenuous; he did not shower Trump with undeserved accolades.
Trump, however, acted as if the many years of his disgraceful Obama shaming never happened. If he was “real,” like his supporters claim, he would have done no more than cordially shake hands and simply move on with business. There was no need for insincere and completely unbelievable flattery.
But Trump is a skilled businessman who says what the customer wants to hear to close the deal. If this pattern continues, a thick cloud of disillusionment may soon descend upon his ardent supporters.
Donny Trenk
Via E-Mail
Applauds Endorsement
I applaud The Jewish Press for its endorsement of Donald Trump. I believe that not long into his term as president he will justify that endorsement with actions and words.
We’ve heard others who have sought the presidency promise to move the American embassy to Jerusalem only to bend the knee to the State Department once they’ve been elected. It should be clear to all Americans that Donald Trump will not be cowed or swayed by such entrenched elements within our government. They will have met their match in him.
A day after Trump’s incredible upset victory, Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke on
the subject of Trump’s longstanding support for Israel and of the excellent relationship between the two men. I find it utterly amazing to read, in The Jewish Press and other publications, readers and pundits berating Trump for an anti-Semitism on his part that is non-existent.
The decades-old inability of many Jews to vote for a Republican is, to my thinking, obsolete and foolish – and in fact often deleterious to Jewish interests – but to conjure up analogies to Hitler is beyond despicable. To charge Trump with any form of bigotry is to totally ignore the man’s life experiences. His comments about some border crossers here illegally and committing illegal acts weren’t racist but, rather, truthful and accurate. The liberal media, however, spun that into his painting all Mexicans as criminals.
The bottom line: Give Trump a chance to do the right thing for America, Israel, and the entire world. Save the vitriol for our enemies, not for our president and friend, Donald Trump.
Myron Hecker
New City, NY
Golden Opportunity
The polls were wrong, the pundits were wrong, the establishment was wrong. But the people got it right, electing the populist billionaire Donald Trump, while rejecting the ultra-progressive Hillary Clinton, as our 45th president.
They also gave Trump a Republican Congress, as well as 33 Republican governors to work with. It was a tsunami victory for the GOP.
For more years than anyone can remember, the American people have been saying that the country is headed in the wrong direction and that they wanted change. Serious change.
They found it in the person of Donald Trump, who took his campaign where no Republican had gone in decades – to Michigan, Wisconsin, and other parts of rust belt America – and brought back into the GOP a group previously known as “Reagan Democrats.”
This election may go down as a realigning election because it meets two key criteria: (1) A major political party has been seriously weakened, and (2) a new political leader with new ideas has acquired the reins of power. Certainly, the Republican Party now dominates the political landscape.
In the new year, the new president and the new Congress must begin delivering on campaign promises such as repealing Obamacare, nominating respecters of the Constitution to the Supreme Court, improving border security, and repairing our badly run-down bridges and roads.
For their part, conservatives can offer solutions based on the first principles of limited government, free enterprise, and individual freedom.
As it moves forward, the Trump administration will face many powerful pressures to compromise, to settle for less, and to cut deals with special interests. The historic results of the 2016 election offer a golden opportunity that must not be wasted.
Brian J. Goldenfeld
Woodland Hills, CA