TriceEdney—I’m among those who really would like to move on to something bigger and better than what we hear daily on the news—but, as a lawyer, I know that there’s a legal principle that says “Silence gives consent,” so I just can’t allow myself the luxury of ignoring current events without comment.  While “The Donald,” his family and best friends fly around the world at our expense, I must speak out once more on Trump.

First, can you believe the naivety of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross when stating that he was amazed that “The Donald’s” visit to Saudi Arabia was so successful?  He based success on the fact that the visit did not draw a single protestor or oppositional placard.  Ross’ comment speaks to the level of knowledge and experience among Trump’s inner-circle.  Ross obviously failed to learn that protesting is illegal and banned in the kingdom.  I’m sure somebody wanted to protest, but was not eager to face up to 15 years in a Saudi prison for doing so.  

Dr. E. Faye Williams

If that statement isn’t bad enough, Ross appeared fascinated and enamored with a kingdom that is so repressive/regressive it doesn’t even allow women to drive.  As one Saudi cleric put it, “Driving could harm women’s ovaries!”  To their credit, some women are not frightened and are challenging that, and other archaic laws.

But, I digress.  Let’s move to the main culprit, “The Donald.”  His bluster regarding Radical Islamic Terrorists and keeping Muslims out of “AWVUH” (think he means OUR) country is familiar to all.  However, when given the opportunity to express himself in the midst of Muslim identity, not once did he mention the phrase he condemned President Obama for not using.  One can only ask if that’s mere hypocrisy or whether reading the carefully worded document in front of him precluded any “freestylin.”  He’s now substituted “Loser(s)” in his personal lexicon for the phrase Radical Islamic Terrorists.

Meanwhile, every day in the “Homeland,” we have been flooded with breaking (bad) news about Russians interfering in our 2016 Presidential election to secure a victory for “The Donald.”  Before he could clear US airspace, we were shocked with the news of an Oval Office meeting with two of his Russian buddies wherein he disclosed high-level military intelligence and berated former FBI Director, James Comey, as a “crazy nut case.”

Since “The Donald” and his entourage have been flying to other faraway places, we have learned that his attempt to obstruct the investigation of possible collusion between his campaign and Russia for the purpose of manipulating the 2016 election outcome is more expansive than originally thought.  Not only did he (self-admittedly) fire Comey for that purpose, Trump solicited two other intelligence executives for the purpose of using their influence to quash continuing inquiry into the matter.

Trump has previously demonstrated his disdain for recognizing the intelligence of the American voter, but I hope he is not so deluded as to think that while he is away The Russia Thing will disappear.  It will be here when he returns and he will also have to deal with the broken campaign promises outlined in his proposed budget.  I trust that someone is informing him that there will be some explaining he’ll have to do about his proposed budget.  

I will address this budget in greater detail in an upcoming column, but needless to say, it is an attack on most of us—persons with disabilities, seniors, children, and others.  I wonder how many of Trump’s supporters see themselves on the chopping block that is his budget.  

Despite its flaws, I’ve always thought America to be a Great Place.  I just thank God that “Making America Great Again” in Trump’s image is proving more difficult than first thought.

Dr. E Faye Williams can be reached at:202/678-6788, or at: www.nationalcongressbw.org