The Capitol Building of the United States, the meeting place of the US Congress, and the seat of the Legislative arm of Government went under an unprecedented siege yesterday Wednesday, January the 6th 2021, by thousands of President Trump’s supporters.
President Trump, who was defeated in the last presidential election, and is due to be evicted from office in two weeks time, has refused to concede, by consistently making false claims that he had won the election.
The congress was meeting yesterday to confirm the election of President-elect Joe Biden, as the 46th President of the United States, when President Trump’s supporters stormed the venue for demonstrations that turned violent, forcing many in attendance, including the Vice President, to flee for safety.
For America, the globally acclaimed champion of democracy, nothing can be more embarrassing to the rule of law. Rightly or wrongly, America is being presided by a picaro president, who does not see any shame in any sham.
According to an article published by Joseph Stromberg, the dawn of American democracy didn’t come in 1776, with the declaration of Independence. It didn’t come in 1788 when the Constitution was ratified by the states, or in 1789 when George Washington took office. It happened at a different time.
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He said, with reference to Harry Rubenstein, chair and curator of the Division of Political History at the American history museum, the symbolic birth of our system of government didn’t come until it’s noble ideals were actually put to the test. On September 19, 215 years ago, Washington published his farewell address, marking one of the first peaceful transfers of power in American history, and cementing the country’s status as a stable, democratic state.
In effect, and by his consistent actions of refusing to allow for a peaceful transfer of power, President Trump is working at cross purpose with the ambition of George Washington, who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797.
Facebook and Twitter have since suspended President Trump’s accounts, as a result of his actions and posts, calling on his supporters to storm the Capitol hill, just as a growing number of civic and business leaders, as well as lawmakers, are calling for his removal from power.
There are suggestions that Vice President Mike Pence should invoke the 25th Amendment, which provides procedures that can be used to replace a sitting president, who is no longer capable of fulfilling his duties.
Yes, the consensus is that, under Trump, America’s democratic values are being undermined, as the country is gradually being presided over by a picaro President.
Since coming to power as the 45th President of the United States, on Friday, January 20, 2017, President Donald Trump has been engaged in all manner of transgressions, that are trailed with tragedies.
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The first noticeable transgression started with his attempt to get James Comey, the FBI director responsible for overseeing the investigation into his relationship with Russia during the 2016 election, to drop an investigation into National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. When Comey refused, Trump fired him.
President Trump made two more attempts at stopping the investigation by unsuccessfully trying to fire Robert Mueller, Comey’s predecessor. Then, Trump ordered White House Counsel Don McGahn, to create a false record, indicating that no attempts took place. McGahn refused.
Repeatedly, Trump had attempted to intimidate or influence witnesses in proceedings against him. In fact, Robert Mueller’s investigation revealed multiple instances where there was strong evidence that Trump had committed obstruction of justice.
The Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause prohibits the president from accepting personal benefits from any foreign government or official, but Trump has retained his ownership interests in his family business while he is in office.
This means, every time a foreign official stays at a Trump hotel, or a foreign government approves a new Trump Organization project, or grants a trademark, Trump is in violation of the Constitution.
Trump has repeatedly pushed his properties as avenues to secure his favor, and multiple foreign officials have stayed at his properties while lobbying his administration, particularly Saudi and Iraqi officials, who stay at his hotel when lobbying for their interests. China approved multiple trademarks for his family’s brands while negotiating trade policies.
Trump promoted his club in Doral Florida for the 2020 G-7 Conference, and then, the White House announced the multi million dollar contract was awarded to his own resort, after Trump’s suggestion.
And every time he goes to golf at a Trump property, he funnels taxpayer money into his family business—violating the Domestic Emoluments Clause. Records show that to date, Trump has spent over $100 million taxpayers dollars to golf and vacation at his own properties.
Since yesterday, when the drama started at the Capitol Hill, alongside the long shopping list of Trump’s transgressions, my mind had been at work, wondering and looking for the appropriate adjective that America would have used if such an attitude was exhibited by an African leader.
Truly Trump has introduced tantrums into presidential speech etiquette and reduced America’s democratic values and credentials to tatters.
Bala Ibrahim, a Media Advisor writes from Abuja
