By Shelley Powers / Opinion
Feb. 26, 2025 – Trust.
Once won, not easily lost. But once lost, forever gone.
In his first month in office, Trump’s greatest harm has been to trust.
Our allies are no longer our allies, but our enemies, and trust between us has been shattered.
We supported Ukraine…until we didn’t, and somehow Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is the fault of…Ukraine?
We have insulted our neighbor Mexico, and threatened tariffs that would harm our country as much as it.
We have derided Canada, this country’s closest friend. We have demanded they halt a nonexistent migrant flood or suffer devastating consequences…only to say, Ooops, we didn’t mean it, a week later.
We embrace dictators and celebrate oppressors, while dismissing democracy as some quaint old custom.
Trust has also been broken between government worker and employer. After months satisfying job requirements, and then packing up home and family to move near their job, employees are being summarily fired—not for any good reason, or for lack of ability, or even because the job isn’t necessary. No, the jobs are lost solely because some kids working for a man who is, and is not, working for, and is not working for, the Trump administration needs a bullet point for his “what I did last week.”
We’ve also lost the trust of individuals and organizations, both foreign and domestic. USAID was suddenly cut, stranding US workers in dangerous situations. We let food rot on our docks rather than send it to those who are hungry. A bipartisan government agency that amounted to less than 1% of our budget but resulted in positive outcomes throughout the world is gutted because it’s low-hanging fruit in some kind of DOGE numbers game that more closely resembles Path of Exile 2 than sound fiscal policy.
We’ve lost the trust of US farmers and companies who provided the goods USAID supplied, and whose bills are going unpaid because someone who does not know what they are doing is just stopping everything. It’s so easy to turn something off. Just flick a switch. And then walk away from the result.
States can’t trust that the federal government will follow through on commitments made. States can’t prepare communities for future hurricanes, or clear old mines and reclaim the land, or even ensure their citizens are employed because someone from DOGE thought they’d pad their ‘score’ board.
We’ve lost trust in the US government’s health system, once the finest in the world. Why? Because it’s now led by people who think Cheerios is more harmful than cancer, measles, and e.Coli.
Medical researchers can never trust our government’s commitment to long-term research efforts because the same silly kids who again do not know what they are doing, just stopped funding of efforts that could and would save lives.
Their reason? Because they can.
We can’t even get a break by going to one of our national parks, because we can’t trust they’ll be open because of job cuts.
As for yourself…Congressional Republicans have lost our trust because all of you have not made one move against all of these actions. Buddy, you’re normally a talkative kind of guy, but I’ve not heard a peep from you other than introduce a bill to buy Greenland and call it Red, White, and Blueland. Even though the actions the Trump administration take are blatantly illegal and threaten the Constitutional balance that has kept our country strong for 250 years.
When questioned, some Congressional members assure us that the courts are on the job. The courts will pick up the slack for Congress. Yes, sir, trust the courts.
The same members then move to impeach members of the courts.
When fear of Trump overrides the fundamental obligation Congressional members have to their constituents, Congress might as well not exist.
Trust. In just one month, so much trust has been destroyed. There may come a time in the future when more responsible leadership will work to bring together the remains of trust.
But the world will never look at this country the same way again. Government employees will never believe that doing a good job in a necessary task guarantees stability again. Businesses, farmers, and nonprofits will never be able to depend on fiscal promises given again. Medical researchers will never know if the study they start now will actually be allowed to finish.
And we can never again fully trust that when we need the government, it will be there for us.
And you, Buddy. Will we in Georgia ever be able to trust you again?
Trust. Once broken, gone forever.
Sources
Trump says Ukraine started the war that’s killing its citizens.
Historian Anne Applebaum breaks down what Trump’s alignment with Russia means
US joins Russia to vote against UN resolution condemning Russia’s war against Ukraine
Trump says Canada and Mexico tariffs are ‘going forward’ with more import taxes to come
Nearly $500m of food aid at risk of spoilage after Trump USAid cuts
Billions of dollars at stake for farmers hit by Trump funding freeze, pause on foreign aid
Small businesses struggle to find their footing one month into Trump 2.0
Iowa pauses work restoring dangerous abandoned mines over federal funding uncertainty
Savannah’s Springfield Canal stormwater project likely casualty of Trump cuts
Amid Chaos, New Report Reveals 40 Percent of DOGE Cuts Save No Money
The Blinding Contempt of the DOGE bros
600 civilian employees at Tinker Air Force Base face termination amid workforce shakeup
A closer look at RFK, Jr.’s stance on ultra-processed foods
Kennedy says panel will examine childhood vaccine schedule after promising not to change it
Trump halts medical research funding in apparent violation of judge’s order
Canceled meetings and confusion: NIH grant funding in limbo despite court injunction
Elon Musk says federal employees must either document their work — or lose their jobs
Fired federal workers hunt for new jobs but struggle to replace their old ones
Federal Personnel Office Tells Agencies That Musk’s Directive Is ‘Voluntary
Fired in Trump’s chaotic purge, an Army vet says he’s never felt more betrayed
GOP lawmakers confronted by constituents angry with Trump-Musk cuts
Trump’s GOP allies bombard judges with impeachment threats
Musk calls for impeachment after Baltimore judge blocks Trump’s DEI executive order
Messages to Representative Buddy Carson, First District, Georgia
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