Time provides perspective and context for things. As a result, it seems appropriate that as we mark a year since Trump II began that we or, specifically, I give thanks even though it isn’t Thanksgiving.
Before giving thanks, it’s worth reminding ourselves that the popular vote result of the 2024 presidential election was closer than many might think. The popular vote percentage won by the two major party candidates was Trump/Vance 49.8% v. Harris/Walz 48.3%: 2024 | The American Presidency Project. Those who helped place a flawed man, correction, a criminal in the Oval Office have informed me more about the United States than anything in all the previous decades that I’ve experienced.
It is accurate to refer to the man in the Oval Office as a criminal because of the guilty verdict delivered in New York by a jury finding him guilty of all 34 charges in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn star: Trump hush money verdict: Guilty of all 34 counts | AP News.
Placing a man who has been adjudicated as a sexual abuser: Jury finds Trump liable for sexual abuse, awards E. Jean Carroll $5M | AP News, Federal appeals court upholds sexual abuse verdict against Trump | CNN Politics, and a fraudster: Trump fraud ruling adds to his string of legal losses in New York – CBS News into the White House a second time might’ve been a hint as to what would unfold. He told the electorate what consumed him, angered him, drove him: retribution and exercising power. Ignoring the complete lack of integrity and honesty of this man educates me about millions of my fellow citizens. Thank you for showing me how little character, integrity and honesty really matter.
Placing a known fraudster into the Oval Office was bound to lead the country into dangerous waters. Who can ignore the warning as far back as 2016. “Pillage is Trump’s business model. Trump has been embroiled in hundreds of lawsuits for refusal to pay contractors and workers at his projects across the country:” Billionaire Trump Fleeces Workers, Small Businesses – United Steelworkers. I extend a big thank you to my fellow blue collar, hard-working citizens who supported a man well known to stiff hard-working, blue-collar citizens. Apparently, a fraudster and known fleecer was more attractive to vote for than a woman of color who did not have any history of cheating people out of their pay checks.
Voting a known fraudster and sexual abuser into the Oval Office exposed a myth. Despite the self-proclamation of millions to be on the side of good simply because they are seen in pews and houses of worship, they support the criminal. It’s difficult if not impossible to excuse them the second time around. Millions speak of the importance of integrity and honesty then turn and support the criminal unable to speak the truth about anything. Millions opted to see no evil and hear no evil. These millions are worthy of my thanks for justifying my skepticism of those who self-promote their faith and religion too loudly.
I’m thankful to the millions who support the false patriot occupying the Oval Office, draping himself in the flag while undermining everything it represents. The loudmouth man in the Oval Office evaded service when it was his time but talks like a tough guy while surrounded by his secret service detail. To suggest that this self-centered man is a patriot is an insult to every person who has ever taken the oath and worn the uniform to protect and defend the country. Yes, I’m thankful knowing that millions give lip-service to that phrase “thank you for your service” as many put a draft evader on a pedestal while he undermines the constitution and the rule of law that many have given their life and blood to defend.
For decades, I suspected that there was a quiet underlying level of racism/bigotry waiting to erupt. Now, it has. Millions applaud and are proud of the way masked federal law enforcement officers are dragging people of color and immigrants out of cars, houses, stores. Suddenly, even when law enforcement officers attack citizens, it is acceptable to many. I’m thankful that we have fully exposed the level of racism, bigotry and violence people are willing to support and accept from our masked federal officers as long as it’s someone else.
I’m thankful knowing that millions embrace the fraud, the lies, the twisting of facts. I’m thankful knowing that millions of fellow citizens no longer believe in research, science, and the value of learning as we turn away from so much that has contributed to what was the greatest country on earth. Millions oppose high standards and goals in all those areas that attracted the best and brightest to our shores.
I’m thankful for a spineless corps of elected officials who fear a few insults from the criminal in the Oval Office. They’d rather cower to the criminal than fulfil their oath to represent the people. It’s much easier to despise these elected officials given their cowardice.
Recent days have been filled with a demonstration of U.S. bullying, saber rattling and chaos creation. From threats to military actions in various countries, cutting ties with allies over Greenland, and continuing to allow masked, armed federal officers to wreak havoc in U.S. cities, it’ nice to know that the only people who seem immune and happy over all of this is the mega-rich as the stock market keeps returning riches to the rich.
As year one of Trump II ends, we should all be thankful knowing how we’ve allowed a criminal to break a country so easily and quickly.
Timothy Trainer
About the Timothy Trainer: Writing books is a passion for attorney Timothy Trainer, who for more than three decades focused on intellectual property issues in his day job. He has worked in government agencies and in the private sector and his assignments have taken him to 60 countries around the world.
Tim found time to pen a few non-fiction tomes, including his first book, Customs Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights; the 15th edition was published in 2022. Thomson Reuters’ Aspatore Books published Tim’s next title in 2015, Potato Chips to Computer Chips: The War on Fake Stuff.
Fiction was a genre he always wanted to try. In 2019, Pendulum Over the Pacific, was released by Joshua Tree Publishing. “This political intrigue story is set in Tokyo and Washington, D.C., and centers on trade tensions between the U.S. and Japan in the late 1980s,” Tim explains.
In 2023, his first series hit bookstores: The China Connection.
In 2025, he published the sequel, The China Factor, which ranked #63 on the Amazon Asian Literature list in May.