To the Editor:

Donald Trump has vowed to build a wall between the U.S.A. and Mexico. He even claims that Mexico will pay for it. Top Mexican leaders disagree. This wall is envisioned in spite of the fact that Mexico has never attempted to manipulate any of our elections. They are good neighbors of long standing. Trump has basically blamed Mexicans for corrupting Americans with drugs and other crimes. This is a pretty good explanation for domestic problems if you are one who prefers to shift the blame for your behavior onto someone else.

On the other hand, Trump initiated discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin about working with Russia on cybersecurity. Remember, this conversation is in the midst of several investigations of Russian meddling/effecting the outcome of the 2016 election. Bear in mind as well that this reckless move by Trump was made on his first official meeting with the president of a long-term adversarial nation.

Meanwhile, on the home front Trump is making every move he can imagine to disenfranchise certain voters in America. This is despite the fact that very little domestic voter fraud has been reported by any voting precinct in America.

What is Trump’s real motive? Some say he is trying to carry out a coup and seize absolute power over America. Russian leader Nikita Kruschev boasted several years back that Russia would “Take America without firing a shot … we will bury you.” Americans laughed at that prospect then. Does anybody believe it is now possible? Congress needs to pay very close attention to Trump’s foreign relations fiascos. As Buffalo Springfield sang, “Somethin’s happenin’ here. What it is ain’t exactly clear.”

This Republican Congress has a responsibility to make matters of national security clear to the people. Have they asked Trump to brief them on his discussions with Putin? They should. They have all pledged allegiance to the United States of America. To my knowledge no one in the White House (including congressmen/women) has pledged allegiance to Russia.

Dave Waldrop

Webster