July 12, 2026
Dear editor;
Iran has shown it could destabilize the industrial world’s economy at will by closing the Strait of Hormuz, despite the bluster of president Donald Trump and secretary of war Pete Hegseth.
Regardless of the lives lost and the billions of dollars spent, Iran’s leaders feel they have nothing to lose and will probably continue to hold the world hostage until their demands are met. Real estate tycoons Jared Kushner (Donald Trump’s son-in-law) and Steve Witkoff (United States Special Envoy to the Middle East) joined by vice president JD Vance seem quite over-matched by the experienced Iranian negotiators. As the war of choice drags on, Trump’s popularity continues to fall.
At one of the several “cease-fire/Strait-opening” White House pronouncements recently, the always mindful of his popularity president Trump quipped that he hoped never to be ranked lower than Herbert Hoover. He already has, according to several studies by presidential historians and history scholars conducted by C-Span, Axios, Siena College, and the American Political Science Association. All past presidents were scored and ranked on several areas of competence including moral authority, crisis leadership, and public persuasion. Trump’s composite scores were in the bottom five or six, meaning 39 or 40 presidents ranked higher, with Axios and C-Span ranking him dead last. His low ratings emphasized his obstruction of the peaceful transfer of power, his governance during the pandemic, the strain on existing institutions, and his two impeachments.
It is most likely Trump’s second term will not rank him any higher. False election fraud claims and voter suppression tactics are already rampant Nationwide; Trump has suggested using national guard troops and his loyal “American Sturmabteilung” (I.C.E. agents) at polling places in states that traditionally vote Democratic. Under current law, both practices are illegal.
In the span of 10 years the American electorate has for the second time put into office the most corrupt and incompetent man in our 250-year history. His current administration defies the rule of law and ignores judicial rulings while the Supreme Court, with one-third of its justices appointed by Trump, eviscerates constitutional amendments, all the while hugging the flag and whistling the Star-Spangled Banner!
As Trump and his administration race to the bottom of history’s trash heap, we can only hope he does not take the rest of America him.
Dave Hoehne, Aurora