To the editor: 

In 2015, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria used the term Trump Derangement Syndrome (T.D.S.) to describe someone whose loathing for President Trump impaired their ability to form rational judgments.

Arlene Violet’s letter in the Feb. 19 Barrington Times, titled “I Pledge Allegiance to Trump,” concerns me. Her comparison of President Trump’s actions to Hitler and her fear that he will become a dictator are textbook symptoms of T.D.S.

To Violet and other fearmongers, I have great news: you need not worry—President Trump does not want to be a dictator, nor will he become one.

Don’t fear President Trump’s desire for loyalty, either. Given the backstabbing and sabotage during his first term, it’s logical that he seeks those who will help enact his policies rather than undermine them. Every president surrounds themselves with people they trust—why should President Trump be different? Outrage over anonymous reports about specific hiring questions is childish.

Rest assured, loyalty isn’t the only criterion for joining President Trump’s team; competency is also required. No longer does our president rely on D.E.I.-based qualifications such as race, sexual preference, and other irrelevancies. No—common sense has made a comeback. “Are you the best for the job?” is what matters. This should be celebrated, not feared.

The fruits of such practices have resulted in President Trump assembling one of the most competent, ideologically diverse cabinets in modern history, which includes former Democrats and Independents who became alienated by an increasingly radicalized Democrat Party. This all-star team stands in stark contrast to the dogmatic ideologues assembled under Biden. We finally have adults in charge who don’t care about racking up virtue-signaling points on the scoreboard of wokeness. No—their goal is simply to do what’s best for America.

And so far, they’ve done an excellent job. Illegal border crossings are down 90%+. Deporting violent, illegal immigrants has become a priority. President Trump and his team are also actively working to end the devastatingly senseless war in Ukraine. His refusal to toe the line and parrot “Ukraine good, Russia bad” drives many bananas. Some people are just unwilling to accept that President Trump might be capable of good. He has repeatedly stated that he just wants “people to stop dying.” Strange that people will attack and are fearful of a peacemaker president who is working diligently to stop the needless slaughter of human beings, yet they remain silent when warmongers instigate and fund endless wars and conflicts.

You also shouldn’t fear President Trump’s DOGE team, which is expected to save taxpayers billions. Already, they’ve identified wasteful spending on absurdities such as a transgender opera in Colombia and a D.E.I. musical in Ireland. Other programs that receive billions resemble money-laundering schemes more than initiatives to help the American taxpayer. It’s telling to see who cries loudest when funds for such programs are cut.

These are but a few of the president’s tremendous accomplishments, with many more to come. So, Violet, friends, neighbors, and anyone suffering from T.D.S.: “Let not your heart be troubled.” Sit back, relax, and take comfort in the fact that, whether you realize it or not, a new day has dawned, and you are fortunate to live in historic times when you will witness President Trump and his administration Make America Great Again!

Matthew Fletcher

Barrington