Donald Trump’s promise to “Make America Great Again” hasOID always been a cornerstone of his political rhetoric, but as Jackie Calmes points out in her scathing opinion column, his actions since returning to the presidency have done anything but. In fact, Trump’s decisions are actively undermining the safety and security of Americans both at home and abroad. Despite his rallying cries of “Make America Safe Again,” the reality is far more concerning. Trump’s tenure has been marked by a series of self-inflicted wounds that have left the country more vulnerable to threats, both foreign and domestic. His relentless pursuit of vendettas against political enemies, coupled with his appointment of loyalists to key positions, has created a dangerous environment where the rule of law is being eroded and critical institutions are being dismantled.
At the heart of this unraveling is the purge underway at the Justice Department and the FBI. Trump’s allies are systematically removing career employees with decades of experience in combating domestic and foreign extremism. This purge is occurring despite repeated warnings from former FBI Director Christopher Wray, who emphasized that extremists pose one of the greatest threats to national security. The situation is further complicated by the likely confirmation of Kash Patel as Wray’s successor. Patel, a Trump loyalist, has already demonstrated a troubling disregard for the truth, arguably lying under oath during his confirmation hearing. His appointment signals a shift in focus from combating genuine threats to targeting Trump’s political enemies, a distraction that undermines the FBI’s core mission. As Calmes starkly observes, this is akin to a scene from “The Godfather,” where a baptism is juxtaposed with the elimination of rivals. Similarly, while Patel testifies about the integrity of the FBI, the reality is that agents are being reassigned from critical cases to focus on Trump’s vendettas, creating dangerous distractions that leave America less safe.
The damage extends beyond the FBI. Attorney General Pam Bondi, freshly confirmed, has established a “weaponization working group” aimed at prosecuting the prosecutors and investigating the investigators involved in cases against Trump. This move has drawn sharp criticism from the FBI agents’ association, which echoed Trump’s own words in describing the purges as “dangerous distractions” from the real work of keeping America safe. Agents who once monitored terrorist suspects are now being redirected to either assist in Trump’s retribution efforts or help deport migrants. Calmes rightfully questions whether the federal government should prioritize deporting migrants over keeping tabs on militia groups, lone wolf extremists, and even convicted felons pardoned by Trump. The answer, she implies, is clear: the government’s focus should remain on genuine threats to national security, not political vendettas.
The consequences of Trump’s actions are not limited to domestic security. His administration is also undermining the country’s ability to protect itself from foreign threats. Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has become an unelected and unvetted co-president of sorts, with his loyalists invading federal agencies and IT systems. These individuals, often young and unvetted, are gaining access to sensitive personal and tax data of millions of Americans, including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid recipients. This infusion of unqualified personnel into critical agencies has created chaos and heightened the risk of data breaches and security vulnerabilities. Similarly, at the CIA and other intelligence agencies, experienced operatives are being forced out, and their identities are being exposed in unclassified emails, putting them directly in the crosshairs of adversaries like China. The loss of these skilled officers, many of whom are fluent in critical languages such as Arabic, Russian, and Chinese, will take years to replace and represents a significant blow to America’s intelligence capabilities.
The situation is further complicated by the appointment of Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence, despite her history of rejecting U.S. intelligence findings in favor of Kremlin talking points. Gabbard, a former congresswoman, will now be responsible for delivering the daily intelligence briefing to the president, a role that requires unwavering trust and an unshakeable commitment to the truth. Her past actions raise serious concerns about her ability to fulfill this critical role objectively and effectively. Perhaps even more alarming is the decimation of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a bipartisan-supported institution that has long served as a cornerstone of America’s global security and goodwill. By slashing its funding and undermining its mission, Trump is not only jeopardizing humanitarian efforts around the world but also eliminating a vital early warning system for overseas risks. As retired Marine Gen. James N. Mattis once warned, “If you don’t fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition ultimately.” Trump’s decision to defund USAID and alienate allies is a recipe for disaster, leaving America isolated and vulnerable on the global stage.
Perhaps the most chilling aspect of Trump’s foreign policy is his inflammatory rhetoric and imperialist taunts, which have alienated key allies and inflamed tensions around the world. His call to take Gaza, expel 2.2 million Palestinians, and build a “Riviera” has sparked outrage and increased the risk of retaliatory acts, both domestically and internationally. The Department of Homeland Security has already warned law enforcement nationwide to be on alert for potential attacks, and the world watches with bated breath as Trump’s actions destabilize an already volatile region. Calmes’ concluding question—“Make America safe again? Not like this.”—is a searing indictment of Trump’s approach to governance. The cumulative effect of his actions is a country less safe, less respected, and less equipped to meet the challenges of the 21st century. As lifetime Republican and former FBI and CIA director William H. Webster so aptly warned, the destruction of the FBI and the erosion of the rule of law will have far-reaching consequences for national security and the safety of the American people. The legacy of Trump’s second term, if left unchecked, will indeed be one of reckless endangerment and irreversible harm.
