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Letters to the Editor | Feb. 4, 2025

Inquirer readers on Donald Trump's blame game, ICE raid in Philly, and Elon Musk.

President Donald Trump speaks Thursday at a news conference after the collision between a military Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger plane. Trump blamed diversity, equity, and inclusion policies for the incident.
President Donald Trump speaks Thursday at a news conference after the collision between a military Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger plane. Trump blamed diversity, equity, and inclusion policies for the incident.Read moreAlex Brandon / AP

Crisis management

After a terrorist drove his car into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing 15 and injuring 35 others, Donald Trump blamed what happened on Joe Biden’s “open border.” The terrorist, however, was a born and raised Texan who was inspired by ISIS. As the wildfires raged across Southern California, Trump blamed it on the state government’s “woke” water management policies. He then incredulously took credit for turning the water back on. No one believes that’s how it works.

Last week, a passenger plane coming in from Wichita, Kan., collided with a military helicopter. Trump blamed diversity, equity, and inclusion policies for causing America’s first major airline crash in 16 years. The pattern is set. Trump lashes out and divides us in a crisis. To use a basketball analogy, this president is not the person who should have the ball with the game on the line and the clock counting down. This is the person we have, though. We, through our elected officials, have an obligation to minimize the damage. Congress and the courts must become equal partners during this administration, or the damage could become long-lasting.

Elliott Miller, Bala Cynwyd

Speak up

There seems to be no evidence that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid at a North Philly car wash was aimed at the terrifying criminals who are the theme of Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rants. On the contrary, these appear to be the sorts of working people whom we Philadelphians (including, no doubt, many Trump voters) have been content for years to wash our cars, repair our homes, cook our meals, and care for family members. Would it be too much to expect our mayor to say something loud and clear about why raids like this reflect only cruelty and misplaced priorities, not any positive purpose?

Len Rieser, Philadelphia

A travesty

Federal departments and agencies are created by Congress. There is no so-called Department of Government Efficiency, and Elon Musk is not the head of a federal department. Department and agency heads are vetted by the U.S. Senate. Musk is a private citizen, not a federal official of any status. Yet, as The Inquirer reported, his phony department is housed in the White House. This is a travesty. The White House belongs to the people of the United States and is the designated home of the president. Its upkeep is paid for by the taxpayers. Musk and his minions have no right to space in the People’s House, and they should be pushed out the door.

Victor J. Janosik, Norristown

Content label

When you buy a bottle of beer, wine, or whiskey, the label shows the alcohol content. This allows consumers (at least in principle) to judge how much it would take to make them intoxicated. Different batches of marijuana can vary widely in THC content, so if our legislators decide to legalize the sale of marijuana for recreational use, they should require that content be similarly labeled.

Daniel Safer, Philadelphia

Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 200 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.