Letters to the Editor | Sept. 17, 2025

In February 1933, an arson attack severely damaged the Reichstag Building, home of the German Parliament. Adolf Hitler and the Nazis immediately blamed a communist conspiracy. In the aftermath, the Reichstag Fire Decree suspended civil liberties, permitted the mass arrest of political adversaries, and eliminated opposition political parties.

In the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the Trump administration is threatening “a vast crackdown on liberal groups,” which White House officials accuse of being part of a coordinated movement that is promoting violence against conservatives. This claim is absurd on its face. The record clearly demonstrates that acts of political violence are not restricted to any single ideology. Yet, this truth is of no consequence to the president and his supporters.

Democracy in America is in a very fragile moment. Since assuming the presidency eight months ago, the administration has waged war on many of our foundational institutions: the Constitution, Congress, elections, the media, the courts and the legal system, law enforcement, education, the arts. Now, I fear future historians will look back on this point in our history and identify the Kirk assassination as our Reichstag fire moment.

Ernie Peacock, Langhorne

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick cares deeply about Ukraine and endorses strong military weapons support for its Freedom Fighters. But the congressman fails to grasp a crucial piece of important information: In order to accomplish anything in Congress, one needs to build coalitions. The budget Republicans called the Big Beautiful Bill went from the House to the Senate by a margin of only one vote. Fitzpatrick could have built a coalition of pro-Ukraine Republican Congress members — like Mike McCaul of Texas, Jeff Hurd of Colorado, and Don Bacon of Nebraska — and told House Speaker Mike Johnson, “Unless you get Donald Trump to commit to fully support Ukraine, we will not vote for your budget bill.” That’s how power works. That’s how coalitions work. That’s how Congress works. If Fitzpatrick hasn’t learned that basic lesson after eight years in Congress, it’s time for him to find something else to do.

Tom Taft, Chalfont

Much has already been said about the murder of Charlie Kirk. More words will fill social media, radio and TV stations, and newspapers. It’s tragic that President Donald Trump, in his first words about the shooting, used his mighty pulpit to blame, as he said, “the radicals on the left.” Not to try and unite us, not to bring together the factions that divide our country, but to lay blame at the feet of those with whom he disagrees. The Guardian newspaper noted that not seeking common ground at a time when many in the U.S. are scared and angry “was a stunning move for a sitting U.S. president, even by his standards.” Sadly, I wasn’t surprised by the president’s remarks. He has already shown, during moments of crisis — Charlottesville, Va., the pandemic, Jan. 6, 2021 — that he lacks the compassion, integrity, and leadership skills to run our country. I’d ask his supporters to ask themselves if a Republican Party that allows the president to trample the rights of those he disagrees with deserves to remain in power. It’s a question every American voter should ask when they step into the voting booth during next year’s midterm elections.

Catherine Lee, Philadelphia

The right-wing echo chamber — spurred on by President Donald Trump — is trying to make conservative firebrand and ideological zealot Charlie Kirk into an almost mythical figure. Mr. Kirk, although quite influential among young Republican conservatives, is not worthy of all of this attention. In fact, some in Congress are reportedly calling for a resolution to allow him the rare honor of lying in state in the Capitol Rotunda. To this, we should all vociferously and steadfastly say no. This commemoration and honor should be reserved for the rare few who deserve it and have earned it — and Charlie Kirk isn’t one of them.

Ken Derow, Swarthmore

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