Letters to the Editor | July 12, 2026

It is infuriating to me to hear the president of the United States continuing to rant about the illegitimacy of our election processes and about how the 2020 election was “rigged,” all without a shred of evidence. He repeated these absurd and divisive claims during his Fourth of July address to the nation, a time when he should be celebrating with — and trying to unite — all Americans. But as he’s shown throughout his entire life, facts are not his forte.

Let me offer this one fact to the Dear Leader crowd: If the election process is so rigged by the evil, democracy-hating Democrats, how did the GOP win the presidency in 2016 and 2024, and majorities in the House and Senate in 2024? This doesn’t sound like Democratic rigged elections that require “saving” to me.

Again, his accusations against his opponents are, in reality, his own confession. It is his voter-suppressing SAVE America Act that will rig elections, in his own words, guaranteeing Republican wins “for 100 years.” Because the incompetent destroyer of the White House knows his party will certainly lose the 2026 midterms, not because of election fraud, but because of his horrific foreign and domestic policies. So in his frightened mind, there is only one way to save the election for his GOP in 2026: make sure it’s rigged.

Steve Cickay, Newtown

For more than 50 years, I have been a loyal subscriber to The Inquirer. Throughout that time, I have defended the value of legacy media and The Inquirer, in particular, whenever others criticized it. That long history is why I was so disappointed to pick up the July 6 edition after the Independence Day weekend and find the front-page headline centered on President Donald Trump.

Did you experience the same Fourth of July as the rest of the region? Because what so many Philadelphians were focused on was something entirely different. Across the country, people of every age braved the heat to attend parades, gather with family and friends, swim, picnic, and celebrate America’s 250th birthday. I live in a community of older adults, and many spent the day watching ABC’s extensive coverage of the nationwide celebrations. From small towns to major cities, the focus was on history, community, and the shared joy of marking an extraordinary milestone in our nation’s story.

The beautiful full-color photographs inside the paper captured the spirit of Philadelphia and the celebrations our region shared. That story deserved the front page. Instead, the newspaper elevated a political narrative over the event itself, leaving the impression that one individual defined the holiday. Independence Day belongs to the American people, not to any president.

At a time when trust in journalism is fragile, newspapers have an opportunity to reflect what unites communities as well as what divides them. America 250 was one of those rare occasions that called for a front page celebrating our city, the surrounding region, our history, and our shared civic life.

I believe The Inquirer missed that opportunity, and as a longtime reader and supporter, I found that deeply disappointing.

Marguerite Sexton, Philadelphia

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