Letters to the Editor | April 10, 2026

After reading Thomas J. Raleigh’s op-ed criticizing Secretary Pete Hegseth — yet another of the daily diatribes against the current administration in The Inquirer’s Opinion pages — I had an observation. The defense secretary during the Benghazi debacle during the Obama administration was Leon Panetta. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was in office during the Biden administration, led the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and hid his prostate cancer diagnosis from the president. Under Hegseth’s leadership, the current department has, in a short time, succeeded in the arrest of the Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, taken action to diminish the shipment of drugs to our country, safely destroyed the nuclear facility in Iran (obliterated or not), executed the recent war plan effectively, and heroically rescued two downed aviators from enemy territory. For the first time in years, the military has exceeded its recruitment targets. Hegseth’s history, personality, and religious convictions aside, who is a more effective secretary? Critics may not agree with the Trump administration’s policies, but it seems the department is running effectively.

Daniel McCartney, Richboro

As City Council considers the Safe and Healthy Homes bill, one basic question keeps coming up: Who actually has the right to live in a home when there’s a dispute?

Most people don’t think about this until something goes wrong. A friend crashes for a few days and never leaves. A roommate situation falls apart. Then suddenly, no one is sure who has the authority to say, “You need to go.”

It seems like the city could help by doing one simple thing: Make sure there’s a clear way to confirm who has the right to be in a home before protections kick in or delays start. That kind of clarity could save people a lot of confusion and stress.

I’m all for safe and healthy homes. But part of that is making sure the right people are actually protected from the start.

Kirk A. Parsons, founder, End Squatters’ Rights, Philadelphia

Supporters of President Donald Trump like to tag his critics as suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome, or TDS. I don’t think his supporters understand what the word derangement means.

The online Cambridge Dictionary defines derangement as “the state of being completely unable to think clearly or behave in a controlled way, especially because of mental illness.”

In 1973, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil housing discrimination lawsuit against Trump and his father for their refusal to rent apartments to Black people. The lawsuit was based on evidence gathered by people on behalf of the New York City Human Rights Division, which alleged that Black people who went to Trump buildings were told there were no apartments available, while white people were offered units. The settlement, in part, required the Trumps to place ads promoting equal opportunity housing. Refusing to rent apartments to people based on the color of their skin? Whoa. I’d say that’s not only deranged, but racist.

At the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Va., neo-Nazis and white supremacists marched while chanting such slogans as, “Jews will not replace us.” Later, after clashes between the neo-Nazis and demonstrators protesting their presence, Trump called the neo-Nazis and white supremacists “very fine people.” He later tried to backtrack on those remarks, but as then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement, “There are no good neo-Nazis.” I’m with Sen. McConnell on this one. On the derangement scale of 1-10, calling neo-Nazis fine people has to be a 10, and really an 11, if you’re a fan of Spinal Tap.

During his first run for office, Trump mocked a disabled reporter. During his second campaign, he mocked Joe Biden’s stutter. A grown man mocking the disabled. Let me repeat that. A grown man, an adult in his 70s, mocking a disabled person and someone with a speech disorder. That makes Trump ... what are the words I’m looking for? An immoral jackass? No, that’s not it. I mean, he is, but what I mean to say is the man is deranged.

If Trump’s behavior isn’t deranged, I don’t know what the meaning of the word is. And, apparently, neither do Trump supporters.

Jay Nachman, Philadelphia

On numerous occasions, Sen. John Fetterman has accused the Democratic Party of being governed by “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” But if the events of this past month have taught us anything, it’s that the true derangement lies in the threats coming from the White House. To threaten the extinction of an entire civilization is not “commonsense” politics; it is maddening and criminal.

Perhaps the Democrats the senator is so quick to scorn simply see the president for what he has always been. While we await a public apology from him, those of us labeled with TDS join together in wishing Sen. Fetterman a speedy recovery from his own “Trump Normalization Syndrome.”

Eileen McVety, Downingtown

The president and pundits soothe themselves in the current worldwide energy crisis by asserting that America produces all the oil it needs. This view is not only wrong, it is ridiculous.

The United States of America does not produce its own oil. Exxon and Chevron produce and own the oil they pump in America. They take their commodity to the world markets to benefit the company and investors. Energy corporations have few incentives and little responsibility to benefit U.S. consumers. It is completely irrational to believe their oil helps us.

The Republican war with Iran has already led to a 50% increase in the cost of crude oil.

While oil companies and investors reap profits, and the Vladimir Putin dictatorship and the Iranian regime are enriched, American consumers face dramatically increased gasoline prices and rising inflation. This war of choice initiated by Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu has been an economic debacle for working Americans.

Where is Congress? Even though there is a two-week ceasefire, shouldn’t our representatives bring a permanent halt to the war crisis? Can diplomatic negotiations replace the destructive conflict that Netanyahu and Trump inflicted on Americans without the consent of our lawmakers?

Unfortunately, it may require India or China to broker the process between the Gulf states and Iran, as our own regime has thoroughly squandered American diplomatic prestige. Regardless, Congress must do what is necessary to correct the situation.

Mike Shivers, Altoona, Pa.

In my last published letter, I wrote that Donald Trump has no intention of leaving office, and unless stopped, will call on his insistence of electoral fraud — a complete falsehood — to justify calling off the presidential election. Now, without congressional authorization, the president has given us a war in Iran that can further justify such actions, when the dangers he will allude to are ones he has instigated. Yes, of course, countless Iranians long for and deeply deserve a regime change, but their country’s horrific murders of its own citizens scream that this must happen from the ground up. The effective way for this to happen is strategic infiltration of professionals on the ground to strengthen and enhance the voice and leverage of the people.

Meanwhile, unless it is stopped, the construction of Trump’s massive $400 million Midas ballroom will begin soon — just as millions cannot afford gas or food, much less healthcare. We now know that a massive military complex will exist below the ballroom, with secure facilities for the president and his staff, something described as “a matter of national security.” It will replace the far less imposing underground facility that existed in the former East Wing, now decimated. My guess is that this new structure will offer grander amenities designed for comfort in longer stays than the one it replaces. Gold faucets, perhaps? With our president’s mindset and evidence of past actions, a decision to put this massive construction to use will have nothing whatsoever to do with national security, and everything to do with preserving and enhancing Trump’s secure dictatorship — one protected by relentless power and control.

SaraKay Smullens, Philadelphia

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