Why Trump’s 'most dangerous quality' may be his 'honesty': analysis

Since returning to the White House on Monday, January 20, President Donald Trump has generated a long list of controversies — from pardoning more than 1500 of the January 6, 2021 defendants to vowing to hold undocumented immigrants at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

But many long-time Trump critics are not surprised by the controversies, as these are the type of things he promised to do if he won the 2024 presidential race.

In an article published on January 30, Salon's Chauncy DeVega argues that "Trump's most dangerous quality may be his honesty."

READ MORE: 'Live with that shame': Jan. 6 rioter pardoned by Trump gets 17-year state prison sentence

"During his 2024 campaign," DeVega explains, "he vowed to rule on 'Day One' as a 'dictator,' and promised the 'most extraordinary first 100 days of any presidency in American history.' He would launch a 'shock and awe' campaign to enforce his will and remake American society and government in the far-right MAGA movement's desired image."

DeVega continues, "During the first 10 days of his second term, Trump has delivered all that and more…. His dozens of executive orders and other edicts have included freeing virtually all of his supporters who attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021, attempting to nullify the 14th Amendment and end birthright citizenship, declaring a national emergency on the U.S.-Mexico border, launching nationwide raids against undocumented immigrants and their communities as part of 'the largest deportation plan in American history,' escalating attacks on the LGBTQ community, closing down government programs and offices focused on diversity, equity and inclusion, withdrawing from both the World Health Organization and the Paris climate accord, and throwing out many other changes made by the Biden Administration regarding the environment, the economy, education and other areas.' None of that should have come as a surprise."

DeVega interviewed some political voices who find Trump's actions disturbing but not surprising.

Journalist/author Steven Beschloss told DeVega, "For anyone who pays close attention to politics and cares about a democratic future, as I do, it's hard not to feel overwhelmed right now. None of it is surprising, but that doesn't make the reality any more tolerable. The pardoning of violent January 6 MAGA people stands out as a particularly vile demonstration of Trump's desire to reject the rule of law, stoke fear and incite more violence, now with aggrieved paramilitary shock troops ready to do his bidding."

READ MORE: Republicans float plan to slash benefits for working class to pay for Trump tax cuts

Cheri Jacobus, a political strategist and ex-Republican, argues that Trump is inflicting even more "harm and destruction" than he promised during his 2024 campaign.

Jacobus told Salon, "Did Trump promise at his campaign rallies to invade Greenland? Panama? Launch economic war against Canada? Of course not. Did he promise to end FEMA? Did MAGA understand he would pull the U.S. out of the (World Health Organization) and revoke the 1965 executive order prohibiting employment discrimination in federal hiring based on gender, race and religion?.... Did Trump announce to a cheering MAGA campaign crowd that he would end cancer research and clinical trials? Or that instituting a science and health freeze will make liquid nitrogen unavailable — which is needed for specialized replacements for birth defects and will go bad within 10 days — causing an increase in infant mortality rates? Every move Trump has made in his first week appears designed to destroy the United States from within."

READ MORE: 'Grievance and animus': CEO explains how 'status anxiety' motivates Trump’s base

Chauncey DeVega's full article for Salon is available at this link.