Donald Trump’s shameful stain on democracy – Yorkshire Post Letters

AFTER his resounding defeat in the November election, it was always likely that the departure of the 45th President of the United States would be eventful (Christa Ackroyd, The Yorkshire Post, January 9).

Few, however, could have predicted the dramas and assaults on democracy that would unfold over the last eight weeks. Now, with the most tardy and ungracious of concessions to Joe Biden, perhaps the USA and liberal democracy worldwide can move on from the nightmare that Donald J Trump so grotesquely personified.

His exploitation of the fear and anger of millions of Americans reached its tragic climax with the riotous events in Washington.

For him now to condemn the rioters – 36 hours after they stormed Capitol Hill – is the rank hypocrisy of a man who builds a bonfire for wayward children, hands them cans of petrol and boxes of matches; then chastises them for lighting the fire.

In all countries there are millions who feel forgotten, left behind by globalisation and political elites; they are not all deplorables, although on occasion their actions can be.

Just as this fuelled the success of Trump, it is a major reason why we left the EU. These concerns must be addressed by governments.

That most Americans saw through this entertaining but utterly despicable man, willing to deepen social and racial divisions rather than seeking to heal them, is for me the great lesson for us all as we all face the daunting medical and economic challenges of the pandemic and the long-term seismic consequences of climate change, which charlatans like Trump deny for political advantage.

I hope, that decency, tolerance and, most of all, truth will return to the centre of politics across the free world.

From: Hilary Andrews, Nursery Lane, Leeds.

SHOCKING as it was to see the appalling behaviour of Americans who disagree with the result of their election, are we at risk of such a situation here?

Some presenters of television programmes are so virulent in their opposition to everything the Government does, overriding the opinions of their guest in the style of Donald Trump, that they are in danger of inciting some people to take extreme action.

From: Geoffrey Brooking, Havant.

WELL done Priti Patel for showing real statesmanship by condemning the atrocious actions of supporters of Donald Trump in Washington recently.

This kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable in any democracy. Vice President Mike Pence was right to distance himself from Trump and his supporters too.

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