Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Editor, Times-Union:
Donald J. Trump ran for president as the “Peace President.” Trump saw to it that the U.S. Institute of Peace was renamed the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace. Trump was given a made up peace prize by FIFA late last year. Trump says he ended at least eight global wars, but close scrutiny and research reveals otherwise. Trump said he would end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours, but Putin continues his relentless quest to overtake the country. Trump said he ended the war between Israel and Gaza, but no leaders from either country ever signed a peace agreement, and people are still starving and being killed while Gaza itself appears to be disappearing.
Now, just days into a new year, Trump has made it clear with his “invasion” of and intention to overtake and “run” Venezuela that peace is not the goal - especially not peace by strength but rather peace by force - that he has adopted the Vladimir Putin how-to-take-over-other-countries playbook … and get away with it. He has openly admitted that his goal was not to stem the flow of drugs into America. That was just a cover to appease MAGA mindsets. The goal all along was to help the 900+ billionaires (whose wealth according to UBS soared by 18% to $6.9 trillion in 2025) add more wealth to their coffers with the usurping of Venezuela’s abundance of oil.
Remember when Donald J. Trump promised American oil executives “a great deal” if they gave his campaign $1 billion? Well, they made sure he escaped his impending trials and possible jail terms by getting him elected, and a few days ago he gave them Venezuela and explained they could just take control of the country’s oil reserves - the largest in the world. The New York Times reported that Trump insisted our oil companies “would rebuild the energy infrastructure in Venezuela.” Right!
Now, realizing that his hand-picked team of ring-kissing lackeys is dutifully carrying out his agenda (Projects 2025-26), Trump is verbally hinting at increasing his plan for dominance with future conquests: Columbia, Mexico, Greenland, Canada - possibly with force, stating that kidnapping is not necessarily a bad thing.
Like his mentor Vladimir Putin, Donald J. Trump sees nothing but positive outcomes for himself and his wealthy friends by creating his own rules/laws and setting forth on a mission to conquer and control whatever and whomever he chooses — consequences to the little people be damned. Let the commoners fend for themselves. They and their menial needs do not matter. Their whining about affordability, loss of health care, loss of federal aid in times of catastrophes, their cries for accountability and justice are just noise. Let them eat cake! And arrest anyone even peacefully protesting against the Trump regime! (Just done to a woman in Michigan.)
Coalition of independent, democratic countries helping each other solve problems, grow strong and prosperous together? Peace on earth in 2026? I think not. God help us!
Jeanne Tuka Schutz
Winona Lake, via email
