Re: "Trump Repeats False Claims about Trade with Canada"

To the editor:

President Trump is painfully transparent in exhibiting his unfitness for office and risk to our country (NYT, 3.16.18, Trump repeats false claims about trade with Canada).  He tells Republican donors in a private meeting that he was ignorant of the most basic details of the trade balance between the U.S. and Canada.  Aware of his ignorance, he asserts to Prime Minister Trudeau what he wishes to be true (i.e., that a trade imbalance exists with Canada) in an apparent effort to manipulate the Prime Minister.  He then flaunts this behavior to Republican donors in an effort to impress them and garner their financial support for a Senate candidate. His press secretary, as expected, comes to his defense by manipulating the facts.

As a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, I am troubled not only by this undeniably pathological behavior.  I am troubled by the lack of outrage, the deafening silence of those in elected office who turn a blind eye and embrace denial putting their self-interest before country.  Moderate Republicans should be ashamed of themselves for their complicity and moral abdication of responsibility. I am troubled because this story is buried in the pages of the Times as if this is trivial news. Or so typical as to not be particularly newsworthy.

It is crucial that citizens do not become numb or see our current reality as the 'new normal.'  We must insist that our elected officials do the right thing.  If not, we will do the right thing at the ballot box next  November.

Respectfully submitted

Larry S. Sandberg