Dear Editor:

Like Cassandra, the mythological princess blessed with the gift of true prophecy but doomed never to be believed, prominent conservatives have tied to warn us of the danger lurking within an American-built Trojan Horse.

Andrew Sullivan, author of The Conservative Soul: "In terms of our liberal democracy and constitutional order ... [Trump] is an extinction-level event.” (2016)

Rex Tillerson, Donald Trump’s first Secretary of State: “Trump is a [expletive deleted] moron.” (2017)

George W. Bush, 43rd president of the United States: “Bullying and prejudice in our public life sets a national tone -- provides permission for cruelty and bigotry and compromises the moral education of children. The only way to pass along civic values is to first live up to them…. [Trump] doesn’t know what it means to be president.” (2017)

Dick Cheney, Gerald Ford’s White House Chief of Staff, Congressman (R-WY), George H.W. Bush’s Secretary of Defense, George W. Bush’s Vice President: "There has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump.” (2024)

Mike Pence, Trump’s first vice president: To his boss on Jan. 6, 2021, when his life was in danger within the Capitol: ”You’re not protecting our country, you're supposed to support and defend our country.” In a campaign speech: "I believe that anyone who puts themselves over the constitution should never be president of the United States, and anyone who asked someone else to put them over the constitution should never be president of the United States again.” (2024)

Now that this Horse is back inside the walls, our White House is being demolished as our Constitution is being shredded.

Brett Stevens, conservative columnist for The New York Times: “Though I tend to think it’s usually a waste of space to devote a column to President Trump’s personality — what more is there to say about the character of this petty, hollow, squalid, overstuffed man? — sometimes the point bears stressing: We are led by the most loathsome human being ever to occupy the White House.” (2025)

Fool us once, shame on him; fool us twice ...

Bill Hammond

Boothbay