Trump’s veil removed

Perhaps it was appropriate that one of the first condemnations – from a close friend and ally of Donald Trump – came from the British Prime Minister. Boris Johnson wrote on Twitter moments after the crowds broke into the rotunda, “Disgraceful scenes in U.S. Congress. The United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power.”

Johnson, once described by the U.S. president as “Britain Trump,” said the president was “completely wrong” to cast doubt on Joe Biden’s victory in a “free and fair” election. Hours later, at a press conference at 10 Downing Street, the New York-born British PM declared, “All my life, America has stood for some very important things – an idea of freedom and an idea of democracy…In so far as [Donald Trump] encouraged people to storm the Capitol and in so far as the president consistently has cast doubt on the outcome of a free and fair election I believe that was completely wrong.”

Johnson’s comment proved unintentionally ironic, as the last time that the U.S. Capitol was stormed by a hostile force occurred when British troops assaulted Washington during the War of 1812. The British PM hardly stood alone in his critique. Condemnations came from across the world, from Emmanuel Macron of France, Angela Merkel of Germany, Justin Trudeau of Canada, the Organization of American States, and even the Turkish Foreign Ministry (with no sense of irony obviously).

More importantly, as did Johnson, close friends of Trump like the Israeli Prime Minister joined in the chorus.

“For generations, American democracy has inspired millions around the world and in Israel. American democracy has always inspired me,” Benjamin Netanyahu said. “Lawlessness and violence are the opposite of the values we know Americans and Israelis cherish. The rampage at the Capitol yesterday was a disgraceful act that must be vigorously condemned.” Trump had not at that point, a fact lost on no one.

Only after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for the 25th Amendment’s presidential incapacitation provision to be employed, and threatened impeachment with just 13 days to go in his presidency, did Donald Trump condemn the rioters – over 24 hours after they stormed the U.S. Capitol and were removed. Not surprising, since White House aides revealed that Trump watched with almost glee at the rampaging protestors storming the rotunda. Not astonishing, as the president had pretty much told them to storm the People’s House that morning.

“We will not let them silence your voices. We’re not going to let it happen. . .it is up to Congress to confront this egregious assault on our democracy. After this, we’re going to walk down and I’ll be there with you. We’re going to walk down. We’re going to walk down any one you want, but I think right here. We’re going walk down to the Capitol, and we’re going to cheer on our brave senators, and congressmen and women. We’re probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them because you’ll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength,” the president said.

Yet again, Trump yelled “fire” in a crowded theatre. This time, a riot occurred. If any good emerged from the chaos of last Wednesday, it resulted from millions of recalcitrant Republicans finally waking up. Red-State America’s love affair with Donald Trump has long proven a dysfunctional, abusive relationship. The moment of clarity for millions finally came crashing as rioters carrying Confederate battle flags stormed into the U.S. Capitol rotunda. The “stars and bars” finally, violently entered the People’s House, just over 155 years after the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. That those banners waved beside Nazi Swastikas and “Trump Nation” flags was a reality not lost on even the most ardent MAGA supporter. The argument that the Confederate flag simply represented “a symbol of heritage” was exposed as the lie that it always has been – at long last – in the court of public opinion. For just a moment, Caucasian America clearly saw the true comparative ugliness of racism and the Confederate Flag which Black America has long known.

Inciting insurrection is an unforgivable sin for any American politician, and as such, Donald Trump should leave the White House immediately. None less than the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal has called for the president’s resignation. The Louisiana Weekly calls for his immediate departure as well. The question is by what method, as it clearly seems that the president’s shame will not allow him to leave office even a week and a half early.

In all honestly, employing the 25th Amendment at this point might prove impossible. The idea is alluring to remove Donald Trump from office quickly in such a fashion that constitutional scholars note would mean that he could never run for president again. However, with the resignations last Thursday of Transportation and Education Secretaries Elaine Chao and Betsy DeVos and the number of “acting” cabinet members unconfirmed by the Senate, using the 25th Amendment would stand as constitutionally problematic at best. Moreover, such a move could set a dangerous precedent that unelected members of the government could remove an elected president for reasons other than medical or physical incapacitation.

The other option, impeachment by the House and Conviction by the Senate, runs into the realities of time. Attempting to empanel an impeachment hearing, move such a measure on the House floor, and then schedule a trial in the Senate is virtually impossible in just a week. However attractive the idea of placing in the historical record a true censure of Donald Trump by the Republic may be, this time with significant bipartisan support, the vagaries of the calendar may prove the notion unfeasible.

Nevertheless, January 6, 2021, witnessed something more than just an exercise in ugly riots. The nation watched Pennsylvania Republican Senator Pat Toomey, a Trump ally, condemn the president before the first protestor crossed the Capitol steps. He countered Sen. Ted Cruz’s and Trump’s objection to the Granite State’s slate of electors with a passionate defense of democracy, even when one’s party lands on the losing side of an election. He followed Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who stood against members of his caucus calling the objections “a danger to democracy,” and noting that as Americans we must be united by more than “hatred for one another.”

All of this happened prior to the Capitol Riot. A degree of perspective on last Wednesday’s events might be required. Undeniably, when the Trumpite hordes stormed the U.S. Capitol, America was embarrassed before the world. On the other hand, humanity also witnessed the vast majority of the leaders of the U.S.’s losing political party resisting a virtual coup by the head of that party. That view of America could also restore a hope in the future of our Republic upon the world-stage. For ourselves, we, the citizens of an exhausted county, strangely unified for once by the terror of the precipice upon which our democracy teetered last week, can come together as we could not before—to celebrate Joe Biden swearing in as the 46th president of the United States.

This article originally published in the January 11, 2021 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.