Trump is the first president in U.S. history whose own White House staff felt compelled to post juvenile, ego-flattering images—like Trump as Superman—to satisfy his fragile self-image. They weren’t promoting policy; they were appeasing a man who demands loyalty not to the Constitution, but to himself. This narcissism is not just embarrassing—it’s a threat to democracy. His followers, eager to win his approval, shower him with exaggerated praise and adopt the belief that he can do no wrong.

On this Independence Day, I find myself reflecting not just on our country’s founding ideals, but on how far we’ve drifted from them. Today, Donald Trump said of Democrats: “I hate them. I cannot stand them, because I really believe they hate our country.” This isn’t leadership. It’s not patriotism. It’s pure division — and it’s tearing us apart. Over the last decade, I’ve watched countless families break apart, lifelong friendships vanish, and conversations grow silent out of fear that just mentioning his name will spark anger.