Theodore Roosevelt Once Warned Against the Mindset of Never Being Able to Criticize the President

 

“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.” 

― Theodore Roosevelt

Once again, Donald Trump is cracking under the pressure of being constantly criticized and, yes, ridiculed. People, including the president, are citing the violence at the White House Correspondent's Dinner the other night and urging the left to tone down the violent political rhetoric.

Really?

This lecturing on how their should be limits to violent rhetoric in politics from the group who cheered the violent rioters on January 6th, serving effectively as cheerleaders? Hearing this from the supporters of the guy who threatened to end an entire civilization on Easter Sunday, then mockingly ended that social media post with "Praise be to Allah." I guess that does not count as violent political rhetoric? Hearing this from the group that still has unwavering support of Trump even after he posted illustrations depicting the Obamas as monkeys. Hardly a peep from them about civility after that, eh? But yeah, the left needs to tone down the violent rhetoric. 

Sure. 

Of course, most of us now understand that this comes with the territory of being President of the United States. And frankly, given how well Trump seems willing to dish it, the fact that he can't take any kind of criticism of mockery feels, frankly, laughable. This is the guy who blasted Obama and claimed that a president has "total authority" but then assumed no responsibility when things went wrong once he was in the Oval Office. This is the guy who mocks people and tries to intimidate at every opportunity. This is the same guy who posted illustrations depicting the Obamas as monkeys. The same guy who posts Merry Christmas to the liberal scum or leftwing lunatics. 

But sure, the left needs to tone down the political rhetoric.

Let's be clear: the United States is, for now, still a somewhat free country. We have every right to criticize a public servant, and let's remember that regardless of how much he thinks of himself, with posts portraying himself as Jesus, Trump is, after all, only a public servant. Not a God, not a Supreme Leader, and certainly not beyond reproach. 

Not only would I maintain that we have the right to criticize him, but it is our duty to criticize him. I remained (and still remain) critical of the Obama presidency, of the Biden presidency, of the Bush presidency, and of the Clinton presidency. Regardless of the party, it felt to me imperative to remain separated from political leanings and cheerleading, and to hold our elected leaders accountable. And despite Trump's lurches towards authoritarianism, he remains just a public servant.

I posted the quote above by another president from another time. Theodore Roosevelt warned about the dangers of not being able to criticize a president, and he was absolutely correct.

We still do not live in a dictatorship. Lest we forget, the only way that continues to be the case is by us exercising our First Amendment rights and speaking freely, even against the powerful. Hell, especially against the powerful.

So let's continue the criticisms and, yes, the mockery. Since Trump loves to doll out criticisms and punishment, we should test just how willing he is to take it, as well. And if he can't stand the heat, then get the hell out of our kitchen and let a real president - and an actual adult - take over, okay?