Note: This is a copy of a letter. I sent it to colleagues and friends in Australia, England, Europe, Russia, and the United States.

I am writing to apologize for what America has allowed to happen. Americans made a conscious choice. We elected a convicted felon, rapist, insurrectionist, and fraudster. 

He addressed the U.S. Congress yesterday and lied about every topic he brought up. Last Friday he and his VP ambushed Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. They bullied him in a White House crowded room of Trump surrogates. There was also a sizable contingent of the press and, of course, TV. Trump physically touched him and yelled at him. 

Trump was trying to extort rare earth metals from Ukraine. They were going to sign an agreement giving the rights to a large percentage of the metals. Trump has now stopped military and intelligence support to Ukraine. Europe is stepping up to fully support Ukraine. 

Experts here on authoritarianism explain that Trump is in Putin’s pocket. I think they are correct. Trump has had a long history with Russia, not as a friend, but swindler in need to lots of cash. Russia bailed the Trump organization out with massive loans. They also purchased luxury apartments and houses paying for them in cash. 

Trump is not to be trusted. He has Elon Musk, worlds stupidest yet wealthiest to use a wrecking ball to mass fire government employees. So far 30,000+ have been fired. All of these firings are illegal and they have stopped for now. Only a department head can fire employees. 

Since the heads are loyalists, they have till September to whittle down their department. And they have orders todo so. The CDC is going to lose at least 10% of its employees. There is great concern about how communicable diseases will be dealt with now. Robert Kennedy, Jr, a known anti-vaccine advocate, is in charge. He’s of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

The most obscene firing was the total elimination of USAID. They fired 10,000 people who were doing important work with people in need in counties around world. Trump and Musk are narcissists. They have no empathy and seek to hurt people not help them. 

America is now under the control of a right-wing authoritarian. He has followed through with his promise of being a dictator. He has alienated our Allies, especially Canada, Mexico, and Europe. At the same time he has cozied up to Putin. 

He employed tariffs as a revenge and manipulative tool. He has no idea what effect tariffs have on consumers. He thinks the country pays the tariff, No. It’s the consumer. 

Trump is out to destroy America as a democratic nation. He is chasing in the footsteps of contemporary and historical despots. 

It’s very difficult for me to witness what he and Musk are doing to our country. It’s also challenging to write about the impact on the world. I’ve been an advocate of global collaboration and the development of personal and professional relationships. 

I hope this letter has been helpful to you. It should assist you as you try to answer your own questions about the United States. 

With kind regards, 

Jack Hassard