If I express any positive views of the administration, my liberal friends complain I am stuck in a “right wing echo chamber”. I cannot think for myself apparently. They also question my Christian values. Where is my compassion? Apparently, I abandoned my Christian values when voting for Trump. Were Jesus on the ballot, I would have voted for him instead. Unfortunately, I tend to vote for the less bad candidate more often than not.
At the same time I have been criticized for imposing Christian values on others when I object to abortion, transgenderism, open borders, and a host of other morally objectionable positions supported by Democrats. My friends say religious values should be separate from our civic values when criticism goes their direction.
How Bad is Trump?
I think President Trump will be remembered for many ill-advised statements. His comments are often off-the-cuff, not always well thought out statements. He speaks so often in superlatives, as if nothing could ever be ordinary and must come in vivid colors. I find this manner of speaking tedious and annoying. I also dislike when he calls opponents “jerk” and “retard”. I cringe when he says “lock her up” or “I hate my opponents”, but Trump rarely follows up on such statements. He blows off steam in some sort macho fashion that I suppose is typical of New Yorkers.
President Trump should be judged instead by what he does; his accomplishments are a much better measure. He has shown himself to be a patriot. In contrast, I am appalled by the lack of commitment to American ideals from Democrats, a notion further advanced by recent actions regarding Minnesota. Trump is certainly a man of action and I like most of his accomplishments during his years as president. My friends are aghast at such a viewpoint, but they cannot adequately justify their many criticisms of Trump. Their anger distorts their objectivity. He has not done the great evil they accuse him of. While he certainly deserves some criticism, and we who support him should not ignore his excesses, my liberal friends’ arguments are highly emotional and wholly subjective.
My objections to President Trump are never sufficient for my critics. I defend him sometimes because characterizations of him and his policies are so far beyond the pale. If he were a dictator, folks would not be allowed to openly protest. The Iranians shoot protestors in the street for similar protests. We have never done such things in this country–and we still do not.
It is reasonable to object to Trump policy, but the debate is never about such things.
He’s the worst human being. If we’re relying on this guy’s morality for the most powerful country in the world, then we’re all in a lot of trouble. So this is for [Good]. This is for the people in the United States who are terrorized and scared today. I know I’m one of them. I love this country. And what I’m seeing here happening is not America. Mark Ruffalo, Golden Globe Awards, January 12, 2026.
I cannot accept the acclimation: he is the worst person in the world. I cannot accept Americans are being terrorized by the president. I realize critics like Rosie O’Donnell were indeed scared and left the country, but this was not a reasonable response. The criticisms are far too over-the-top to take seriously.
The Nazis were indeed evil, indiscriminately killing millions, and bent on dominating and re-shaping the world. Comparisons to them are dangerous in themselves. Mayor Frey shows incredible disregard and ignorance of history. If America is truly opposing Nazis, any action is justified, but that’s not even close to the truth. Mayor Frey deliberately uses sophistry to stir up emotions; this is politics at its worst. I do not accept histrionics from these folks; their rhetoric is the problem, in my opinion.
I have a baseline level of respect for the authority of the office, so I am taken aback at folks who call President Trump law-breaker-in-chief, and at those who say his orders are illegal and should not be obeyed what-is-an-illegal-order. I cannot abide this hyperbole to describe actions which are legal and address reasonable concerns. Policy disagreements are fine, but labeling legitimate law enforcement activities conducted by legitimate officials as “organized brutality” and to say the state of Minnesota is under “occupation” borders on treason. I am appalled by these comments. https://news-usa.today/minnesota-gov-walz-tells-trump-noem-to-end-this-occupation-in-rare-primetime-address/.
In June 2025, Governor Walz testified to Congress:
Minnesota cooperates with federal authorities in a number of ways . . . but enforcing immigration law is not the role of local and state governments. The fact is Congress has given federal agencies the authority to enforce immigration laws across this country. That includes Minnesota, and I support them doing so.
Why has his message changed so dramatically seven months later (or perhaps he was insincere to begin with)? Similarly, Governor Newsome said this past week that California cooperates with ICE also. However, California policy contradicts that claim:
- California police are not allowed to ask about immigration status when arresting individuals.
- State and local funds cannot be used to investigate, detain or arrest people for immigration violations.
- California will not release information about individuals unless they have been convicted of certain violent crimes.
- California has also created numerous “ICE Free” zones.
Why is the California government at cross purposes with federal authorities and withholding information from them? This it not how to protest.
Federal law enforcement is not waging a war against our citizenry; such language encourages citizens to act violently. I cannot countenance this criticism. Why do so many politicians criticize Trump so harshly, but then act even more irresponsibly themselves? Demonization of law enforcement is an extremely perilous tactic. I fear for the nation which legitimizes attacks on law enforcement:
- ICE is engaged in “State sponsored terrorism” (Governor Gavin Newsome)
- ICE operations are “modern day slave patrols” and “pure racism” (U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett)
- Federal actions undermine public safety, harm our neighbors, and violate constitutional rights (Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey)
This heated rhetoric leads to deadly consequences. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey correctly predicted that someone would be seriously injured or killed in ICE raids; however, he wants to blame the Trump Administration for this tragedy rather than examining his or state officials actions.
President Trump should be judged against his peers as well. The Obama administration deported millions, yet somehow these deportations are put in a different category than Trump’s. Why? https://www.yahoo.com/news/fact-check-yes-us-deported-110000943.html
How Bad is This?
OMG. Did she actually say this? Characterizing law enforcement as “thugs shooting mothers in the face” should draw outrage from all decent minded Americans. Of course, this Congresswoman routinely makes such outrageous and dishonest statements. Why does anyone takes this woman seriously?
Let us acknowledge certain facts. The mother shot by an ICE agent was impeding their activity, which is a felony in itself. She may or may not have been intending to assault the ICE agent. I don’t know her motivations nor the ICE agent’s. However, she was fleeing the scene-resisting arrest–another problematic action. Furthermore, her actions can easily be interpreted as aggressive and threatening, whether that was her intent or not. She clearly used extremely bad judgment, putting herself and others around her in danger. Her own choices contributed mightily to this tragedy.
Ms. Good may have thought she was doing good, but she was part of an organized effort which has deliberately targeted ICE activities in Minneapolis. The political goal now is to defund or abolish ICE. This is an insane policy that will never work, and she supported it. This same nonsense arose in 2020 after George Floyd’s death. Anyone not supporting law enforcement and impeding their activities is not a patriot and is putting their own lives at risk.
However, I do understand criticisms of the ICE agent in this instance: he may have lacked adequate training; perhaps he should not have stood in front of the car during the arrest; he may not have used the best judgment and may have responded too quickly. I don’t draw any of these conclusions myself, but I understand there is room for doubt. Still, the bottom line is he was attempting to do his job and this woman was in over her head. She was foolishly urged to action by politicians and other fellow citizens. They led her to this dangerous situation. Ms. Good supported an organized group https://defend612.com/ deliberately impeding ICE agents in performance of their legitimate jobs, a group which not only assault ICE agents.
When you feel threatened, when have a split second to determine if your own life is in danger, then such action is understandable. I am not saying the ICE agent has no culpability or that he couldn’t have acted differently, but can we please pause a moment before drawing conclusions? . The situation has been exacerbated by politicians and misguided concerned citizens. To call this murder, without even waiting for an investigation, is again beyond the pale. The video is a few seconds and inconclusive; more investigation is needed to fully discern what happened minneapolis-shooting-video.
Can we also ponder statistics such as these?
Car attacks on ICE officers have spiked — surging by some 3,200% over the past year, according to shocking data released Thursday by the Department of Homeland Security.
Federal officials said violent “radical rhetoric from sanctuary politicians” is to blame for vehicular attacks targeting ICE agents skyrocketing between Jan. 21, 2025, and Jan. 7, 2026, DHS data provided to The Post revealed.
Agents reported 66 attacks compared to only two during the same period in 2024, the data showed.
Federal immigration officers have also reported a 1,347% increase in assaults and a whopping 8,000% surge in death threats during the first year of President Trump’s second term.
One can find support for any particular view, no matter how extreme, which only serves to reinforce our certainty. Tragedies are bound to occur when ordinary citizens who know very little about law enforcement and do not learn the whole story, inject themselves into legitimate law enforcement activities. This is not a game; this is not reality TV. The consequences can be deadly.
What is Actually Happening?
Yes, President Trump speaks too freely, illiberally, and unrefined at times, but he has reversed unreasonable open border policies of the last administration. Refusing to enforce laws, allowing anyone and everyone into the country, was a disastrous policy. Creating “sanctuary cities” where people breaking the law are protected from law enforcement makes no sense either. Please explain how my Christian values require support of such policies.
Americans were told for decades that comprehensive legislative immigration reform was desperately needed. In a few months, President Trump solved the immigration problem without Congressional action; he exposed the dishonesty of his critics in short order. Unfortunately, their dishonesty persists.
Large scale immigration depresses wages (as worker supply increases), increases housing costs (as demand increases), and strains local resources (schools, police, welfare, etc.). A reasonable increase in immigration limits these negative impacts. I support allowing some workers and people with unique talents to immigrate. However, we should be selective and accept only immigrants who support our values, who will work and contribute to our society, and improve the fabric of the nation. We need a reasonable vetting process. If you don’t disapprove of our culture or disagree with our common values, go somewhere else. We don’t need the change you bring.
ICE and other law enforcement traveled to Minnesota because of rampant fraud (more than $9 billion) recently exposed. Furthermore, Somali immigrants in Minnesota receive extremely high levels of welfare. This community has not assimilated well. https://www.villages-news.com/2025/12/13/data-shows-overwhelming-number-of-somali-americans-receiving-welfare/
Long-Term Residents: Even among households that had been in the U.S. for over 10 years, 78% were receiving welfare, compared to only 21% of native-born households in the same studies.
Last year, the Trump administration attempted to deport Kilmar Abrego-Garcia (an illegal alien in Maryland who has been in and out American courts the last few years) and Mahmoud Khalil (a non-citizen and Columbia student activist outspoken on behalf of Hamas during protests which shut down the university in 2025). Both remain in the country because the courts say they must–and President Trump has complied. He has always abided by court decisions and legislative actions challenging his authority. One legitimately argue that President Trump has pushed the limits of presidential power, but so has every other president during my lifetime. It is what presidents do. They lead as best they can, especially when hampered by a Congress which has abdicated a considerable amount of its own power and responsibility. So, why do my friends set a different standard for President Trump? He is attempting to solve a real problem through legitimate means.
Furthermore, Khali and Abrego Garcia, along with many others, have acted badly while in this country. They should forfeit any right to remain. My Christian values are not violated by this position. Instead, I ask: why do they support folks like these?
“Let me first say that the killing of Renee Nicole Good was an abomination, a disgrace. Blood is clearly on the hands of those individuals within the administration who’ve been pushing an extreme policy that has nothing to do with immigration enforcement connected to removing violent felons from this country. We support the removal of violent felons from this country who are here illegally, Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader,
The Minnesota operation is not about removal of violent felons? These folks (left panel) are some protestors protect with their actions .
Do protestors even realize what they have done? Have they lost the ability to distinguish good guys from bad guys?
On January 13, Ben Shapiro interviewed Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs’, Tricia McLaughlin. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-2345-trump-declares-war-on-jerome-powell/id1047335260?i=1000745022784 (minute 21). You will never hear her perspective on one-channel media. They don’t want this version of the story heard:
We are targeting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens . . . Our top priority is gang members, murderers, rapists, child pedophiles. I see the reports every single day . . . What we have seen is just flabbergasting as far as the number of criminals allowed to walk around with impunity in this country. There have been over one-thousand known or suspected terrorists that we’ve arrested in the last year, 3,500 members of Tren de Aragua that we’ve arrested, and there’s plenty more who are out there, and that’s why we have been flooding the zone to get these individuals out of our country.
My friends say my lack of compassion is a problem? Who do they have compassion for? I have compassion for American citizens victimized by the worst of illegal immigrants let into the country the last four years.
I do not give President Trump a pass for all his rhetoric and actions, but there are two sides to every story. It was a tragedy Ms. Good was shot, but we are trying to avoid even more future tragedies by deporting the “worst of the worst”. Are reports of appropriate arrests and deportations in Minneapolis, of vast corruption within the Somali community, and of the Trump game plan all lies?
Obviously, everybody could have done more to prevent fraud. I think that’s a fair point to make. You do more to prevent fraud. And look what he’s [Governor Walz} doing right now. He’s setting up a whole bunch of infrastructure to do that. And by the way, the fraud’s real. We’ve all got to acknowledge it. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, January 12, 2026
Even President Trump’s adversary acknowledges the problem is real. Governor Walz is apparently finally taking action to address the problem, but what about actions President Trump has already taken to prevent future fraud? Does this debate come down to who you trust more to solve the problem?
Ms. McLaughlin also describes the problems with sanctuary cities:
Sanctuary city politicians are harboring criminal illegal aliens . . . Our [federal] law enforcement is not permitted to work with them . . . ICE enforcement is not allowed into the jails . . . so maybe they have picked up somebody who was convicted of rape and that person is in their jail, they are not allowed to release them to ICE or to coordinate their eventual release to ICE . . . That person will serve a certain amount of time and then be released back onto the streets.
If you come to the country illegally, commit a crime, and serve your sentence, should you not be deported afterwards? Why is this objectionable?
A case can be made to deport all folks who should not be in the country. On the other hand, exceptions can also be made for folks who have blended in well. However, this does not the discussion my friends want. Instead, support policies which have put us in the bad situation we are in now. We should not allow those who hate our country, support our enemies, violate our laws, and refuse to assimilate to remain. How does this violate my principles?
It must be nice to be so sure about your positions, but I recommend questioning our biases often. We will miss the elusive truth, otherwise. I am analyst. An examination of the facts is needed. When new facts are presented they should be considered and views refined. Being the lone ranger is not something I fear if my analysis is correct. Changing my opinion is also not something to fear. If proven wrong, I must change my view or discredit myself. Unfortunately, I rarely see these characteristics in others. Better to deny your opponent’s facts. Your campaneros will support you as long as you stick to the approved narrative.
There has been so much hoopla and accusations stemming from President Trump’s immigration policy, so it was worth another look. Clearly, the Trump administration reversed bad policy of the prior administration, but did the pendulum swing too far in the other direction? So far, I don’t see the excesses, but I think we need to keep an open mind and continue examining this question. I await my critics response.
Dave https://seek-the-truth.com/about/
https://seek-the-truth.com/category/faith/
seek-the-truth.com
Seek the Truth 