Donald Trump Fails the Most Important Test: Character

The most important test for any candidate for elective office is character, and the higher the level of trust in the office, the more important good character is. As I have observed firsthand in my service as both an elected and appointed policymaker, only those of good character can be trusted to put the interest of the people above their own. Most conservatives in America have abandoned this principle, along with nearly every other conservative principle, but there are many of us who continue to stand for good character as essential. Donald Trump’s poor character is the root of his lack of understanding of the Constitution and what truly makes America great, and his general lack of principles. His character deficit resulted in bad practices and policies in his four years in the presidency and will cause even worse consequences if he were returned to office, without him having subordinates around him loyal to the Constitution over him, with broad immunity from criminal prosecution granted by the Supreme Court, and without again facing accountability from the voters because of the two-term limit. That Trump dodged the military draft through fraud during the Cold War is sufficiently disqualifying alone because it demonstrates that when America needed him to serve, he failed to do his duty because of cowardice, a lack of patriotism, and selfishness. But the litany of other examples of his lack of good character proves this example not to be in isolation and that Trump is untrustworthy, which is why he could not even pass the lowest level of federal security clearance. He denigrated prisoners of war and minimized the suffering of soldiers and veterans from post-traumatic stress disorder. In office, Trump used the military as political props and sent them on political assignments. After lying during his 2016 that he was not continuing to do business with Russia, and then asking for and accepting election interference from that hostile foreign power on his behalf, and amplifying Russian propaganda and disinformation, he acted in ways favorable to Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin, including trying to extort Ukraine to smear his leading political opponent with a baseless allegation by holding up defensive aid against Russia. Trump held up military aid against Russian aggression last year and favors appeasement of Russia, with which he has long had business interests. In addition to influencing his foreign policy, his financial self-interest was proven when his foundation was terminated because of fraud and his business found liable for fraud, and his inauguration committee forced to reimburse the public for overcharging. In office, his greed caused him to charge the Secret Service, which was only one example of constitutionally prohibited domestic emoluments, and even overcharge them, for protecting him. Trump violated the marriage vows he made with each of his three wives, which is why it was predictable that he would be unable to keep his oath of office, which he did by violating the Emoluments Clause and trying to overturn the legitimate results of an election to stay in power. In addition to adultery, he operated a strip club, denigrated women who pledge to practice chastity, boasted of sexual assault, and was found liable for sexual assault and defamation of the victim. Trump’s misogyny, along with his authoritarianism, has undermined the pro-life cause, instead of promoting it based on love and freedom. His authoritarianism violated the freedom of refugees seeking asylum from persecution, diminished the right of the public to know what financial conflicts of interest he had and what foreign influence there was on him in terms of debts or income (i.e. constitutionally prohibited foreign emoluments), and had a chilling effect on the freedom of expression by business leaders, among other violations of liberty. Trump’s authoritarian proclivities and fondness for foreign dictators increased oppression around the world as the United States forfeited its leadership for freedom and instead became a model of authoritarianism. The bigotry he exhibited as a businessman has led him to cruelty toward refugees and demagoguery against migrants. Trump’s narcissism leaves him vulnerable to flattery and influence, including by foreigners, as well as to sycophancy by subordinates, instead of encouraging honest advice. Together with his financial self-interest and fear of being held accountable for his crimes, Trump’s narcissism precluded him from being able to accept his loss of the 2020 presidential election and to promote lies and conspiracy theories that he had won, much as he lies and spreads falsehoods on many subjects. He not only refuses to disclose publicly his tax returns, but his health records and to submit to a thorough cognitive evaluation. In addition to his civil liabilities, Trump’s poor character has been proven by his convicted of election fraud for using campaign expenses to hide adultery from the public, the recommendation of the Special Counsel for impeachment for obstruction of justice of his probe into Russian election interference, his impeachment by the House of Representatives twice, his indictment in federal and state courts for trying to overturn the election, and his indictment for stealing federal records (including classified top-secret documents). In office, he pardoned criminals based on their political support of him, and has promised to pardon those complicit in the bloody January 6th Insurrection he incited, while he again refuses to accept the true result of the election if it were not favorable to him and his ego and personal self-interest. Trump’s character proves he is unable to place America’s interests above his own. He is unworthy to command anyone, let alone to serve as Commander in Chief. Trump is unworthy of any trust, let alone the highest trust in the land.