【讀者分享 🇺🇸】 我為何對特朗普2.0任期充滿憂慮（下）

【按：我們早前分享過一位會員就「為甚麼支持特朗普」撰寫的五千字長文，引起不少討論。這次我們邀請了另一位觀點相反的會員，分享他為甚麼對特朗普2.0任期充滿憂慮，他也很有心的用英文撰寫了三千字長文，現分兩日分享如下。希望大家珍惜和而不同的討論空間，繼續給予建設性回應，讓我們可以繼續互相交流切磋。】

Ignoring the Presidential Transition Act

The Presidential Transition Act requires candidates from major parties to sign memorandums of understanding with the current President and the General Services Administration (GSA). These

agreements grant access to facilities, documents, executive branch employees, and national security information during the transition period between the election and the inauguration. They also include an ethics plan to ensure accountability.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) raised concerns in a letter to Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, highlighting the campaign’s failure to enter into these required agreements. Raskin warned that ignoring this obligation could severely hinder the transfer of power and compromise national security. However, T2 has completely disregarded this legal requirement, further undermining the integrity of the process.

RFK Jr. as Secretary of Health & Human Services (HHS)

T2’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health & Human Services (HHS) is particularly troubling. Kennedy is a well-known vaccine skeptic, and his leadership could significantly harm public health efforts. His potential actions include:

·       Undermining Vaccination Efforts: Discouraging Americans from receiving recommended vaccines.

·       Cutting Critical Programs: Reducing funding for or eliminating departments within health agencies.

·       Promoting Fringe Policies: Advocating for removing fluoride from drinking water and targeting food and chemical additives instead of focusing on evidence-based health policies.

At the end of T1’s term, over 1 million Americans died due to the mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. T1’s chaotic response was a major factor in his election loss. With RFK Jr. at the helm of HHS, one could question whether T2 is enacting a form of retribution, allowing public health policies to fail and causing further loss of life. If this scenario unfolds, T2’s disregard for public welfare would be undeniable, yet he would remain immune from prosecution under the Supreme Court’s immunity doctrine.

Corruption and Nepotism

T2’s tenure has been marked by blatant corruption and nepotism. The Secret Service, tasked with protecting T2 and his family, has spent nearly $2 million of taxpayer money at Trump- owned properties. These expenses include exorbitant charges such as:

·       Hotel Room Rates: As high as $1,185 per room per night, nearly five times the government rate set by the General Services Administration.

·       Misleading Claims: Despite Eric Trump’s 2020 statement that rooms were provided “at cost,” evidence shows the Secret Service was overcharged, including $3 for a bottle of water at Mar-a-Lago.

These practices reflect a troubling blend of self-enrichment and disregard for taxpayer funds, setting a dangerous precedent for corruption at the highest levels of government.

Foreign Influence and Financial Conflicts of Interest

Documents released by the House Oversight and Reform Committee reveal extravagant spending by foreign leaders at T1’s luxury hotel in Washington, D.C. The committee suggests this spending may have violated T1’s oath of office by distorting U.S. foreign policy for personal financial gain. Government officials from Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and China collectively spent over $750,000 at the Trump International Hotel during his presidency.

T1 has reportedly amassed more than 3,500 conflicts of interest through his businesses. According to tracking by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), this includes visits from at least 150 foreign government officials to properties he still owns and profits from. These officials and entities have spent tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars at these properties, effectively allowing event hosts to curry favor with the Trump administration while personally enriching Trump.

T1’s decision to retain ownership and financial control of the Trump Organization while serving as President laid the foundation for unprecedented levels of presidential corruption.

Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Questionable Deals

On March 29, 2017, Ivanka Trump, T1’s eldest daughter, became an official government employee, joining her husband, Jared Kushner, as an adviser to the President. In 2022, The New York Times reported that Kushner’s close relationship with Saudi Arabia during T1’s presidency paid off when the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund invested $2 billion in his newly formed private equity firm.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government granted 41 trademarks to companies linked to Ivanka Trump by April 2019. Trademarks she applied for after her father became President were approved approximately 40% faster than those she submitted before T1’s 2016 election victory, according to Forbes senior editor Dan Alexander. These approvals raise serious concerns about whether Ivanka Trump’s business interests unfairly benefited from her father’s presidency.

FCC Controversy and Potential Elon Musk Favoritism

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), under its Democratic majority, denied Elon Musk’s Starlink bid to provide rural broadband coverage. The agency determined that Starlink had not demonstrated the capability to meet the program’s requirements, which involved providing internet to over 600,000 locations in 35 states. The FCC cited “numerous financial and

technical deficiencies” in Starlink’s application and noted that its internet speeds were insufficient to meet the program’s demands.

Starlink appealed the FCC’s decision, but the agency upheld its rejection after further review. In his second administration, T2 has nominated Brendan Carr to lead the FCC. Carr, a Republican, has been a vocal supporter of Elon Musk’s businesses. If confirmed, Carr’s appointment could potentially benefit Musk financially by reshaping FCC decisions in his favor, raising concerns about favoritism and regulatory bias under T2’s leadership.

Elon Musk’s Role as Czar of DOGE

T2 has appointed Elon Musk as the Czar of DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency). While this is not a formal government agency, the role gives Musk the authority to scrutinize agencies like the FCC and recommend budget cuts. This creates a potential conflict of interest— Musk, whose companies have faced regulatory scrutiny by the FCC, would now have the ability to push back against the agency. This dynamic mirrors the rise of oligarchs in countries like Russia, where powerful individuals leverage government influence for personal gain.

Economy

T2 has promised sweeping economic changes, including a 20% across-the-board tariff on imports worldwide and tariffs of 60% or more on goods from China. He has also vowed to execute the largest deportation effort in U.S. history, claiming that budget constraints will not hinder this initiative. Occasionally, T2 has hinted at reforms targeting high-skill immigration, though specifics remain vague.

Economists largely agree that T2’s tariff policies could raise consumer prices and drive up inflation, though the extent of these effects is debated. The uncertainty surrounding his economic policies leaves both businesses and consumers bracing for potential disruptions.

Foreign Policy

This area is your expertise, and I’ve read your articles on the Ukraine-Russia peace deal, though I find your perspective overly optimistic. T2 has already displayed authoritarian tendencies reminiscent of historical figures like Hitler. Dictators often admire each other, and T2’s relationship with global strongmen suggests little hope for him using Putin to counterbalance Xi Jinping.

All it would take for Xi to secure T2’s favor is a lucrative deal allowing Trump-branded hotels and golf resorts in China after T2’s presidency. Such a partnership would ease economic pressure on China over time. Moreover, China’s established power makes it an unlikely target for sustained containment by T2.

A stark example of T2’s foreign policy approach is his stance on Gaza. Jared Kushner, T2’s former White House adviser and son-in-law, once referred to Gaza’s “waterfront property” as having "very valuable" potential, suggesting that civilians could be removed to facilitate redevelopment while Israel "cleans up" the area. Meanwhile, T2’s appointment of Mike Huckabee as U.S. Ambassador to Israel underscores his alignment with far-right Israeli policies. Huckabee has denied the legitimacy of West Bank and Gaza settlements, fully endorsing the actions of Israel's leadership under Netanyahu.

In Taiwan, T2’s proposed tariffs on semiconductor chips could harm AI trade, impacting companies like Nvidia. Amid rising tensions, U.S. officials believe Xi Jinping has instructed China’s military to prepare for the possible seizure of Taiwan by 2027—potentially during T2’s term. The question remains: could Peter Hegseth, as Defense Secretary, manage such a crisis? The answer seems clear—don’t kid yourself.

Questionable Diplomatic Appointments

In a surprising development, Iran’s U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani has met with Elon Musk. Musk, despite his expertise in technology, has no background in international relations. This kind of unorthodox appointment mirrors practices often seen in authoritarian regimes like China, where 外行領導內行 (unqualified outsiders lead professionals) is a common phenomenon.

In conclusion, the greatest damage posed by Trump 2.0 is the chilling effect on those who dare to speak out against him. On Monday, November 18, 2024, “Morning Joe” co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski made a dramatic announcement: they had visited Mar-a-Lago the previous week for a fence-mending meeting with President-elect Donald Trump. This revelation came as a shock, considering their outspoken criticism of Trump over the past eight years.

Their actions appear to stem from fear of retribution by the incoming administration, underscoring a troubling new reality. This kind of capitulation could become a recurring scene in America over the next four years. While democracy in the U.S. may not be dead, it is undeniably entering a dark and precarious phase.

This is why I am deeply worried and concerned.

⏺ 【讀者分享：美國大選特輯🇺🇸】 支持侵侵的心路歷程：從一而終的反共抗獨裁
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