Setting Differences Aside in Times of Crises

This letter to the editor, by Kerry Kittel, appeared in the Hudson Star Observer on January 23, 2025.

Americans once set political differences aside in the face of national emergencies. We offered unconditional support and did whatever we could to could to help the victims because they were Americans, just like the rest of us.

Today Trump and the MAGA crowd rush to cast blame and politicize these human tragedies with little or no concern for the victims. They continue to seek political gain rather try to help fellow Americans get through desperate times.

Just as he did after Hurricane Helene, Trump is busy spreading lies about the California wildfires. In each case, nearly every claim made by him has been proven false or taken far out of context. Nearly every Republican governor or mayor in states damaged by Helene was effusive in their praise of federal efforts to help all of the people in their states.

Trump supporters have been busy playing the blame game in local newspapers as well. The January 16th issue of the Hudson Star Observer allowed one of them nearly 800 words to assign blame and to repeat many of the MAGA talking points which have since been proven false.

Only 15 words were devoted to sympathy for the victims and those were limited to his friends. “I hope their homes have not been razed by the inferno of the Easton Fire,” he wrote. 

Concern for friends is commendable, but where is the concern for all Americans whose lives have been forever damaged by this natural disaster?  Hopefully President Trump will take that approach in the months and weeks to come, and not worry about whether people in need are “friend” or “foe”’