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In letters to the editor, Republicans and veterans rebuke Trump administration

Written by Casey Wexler & Sage Hodil

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In letters to the editor in papers across several red states, readers who identified themselves as Republicans or veterans have expressed frustration with the Trump administration. Complaints have covered a variety of issues, including the administration’s treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, cuts by the Trump administration, and the decision to allow unvaccinated soldiers back into the military.

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  • Writers who identified themselves as Republicans called Trump and his officials “stooges” and bullies

    • A self-described Republican wrote to The Oklahoman and called President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and DOGE leader Elon Musk “the Three Stooges.” “As a Republican I am ashamed of my fellow members voting Trump and Vance into the White House and then they added Musk to join them. We can now say that the Three Stooges have invaded the U.S. government. Who would have thought that it could get any worse than Biden?” [The Oklahoman, 3/15/25]
    • A letter in The Dallas Morning News called Trump’s February 28 meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “one of the worst examples of bullying I have ever witnessed.” “I became an American citizen in the early ’80s, became a Republican and voted most of the time with my party. The reason I’m writing is because of President Donald Trump and his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine. I have a son and two daughters whom I always try to teach about the importance of standing against bullying. That incident was one of the worst examples of bullying I have ever witnessed. It was shameful.” [The Dallas Morning News, 3/6/25; Slate, 2/28/25]
    • A Trump voter in Arkansas also wrote to criticize Trump’s Ukraine stance saying, “Someone needs to remind him that America does not side with bully nations against weaker neighbors.” They wrote, “I voted for President Trump because I did not believe the other candidate is capable of handling the complex business of leading the most powerful nation in the world. ... But someone needs to remind him that America does not side with bully nations against weaker neighbors. He is far too intelligent to believe that Ukraine started this war with Russia when the whole world knows that Russia did the invading! He needs to get clearly on the side of right and against all wrong.” [Arkansas Democrat Gazette, 2/23/25]
    • A person who claimed they “had hoped to be a lifelong Republican” wrote in to criticize the Trump administration for “blindly firing 200,000 employees.” “Let me preface my statement by saying I have been and had hoped to be a lifelong Republican. I now find that to be impossible, due to the current Republican administration's blind policy targeting approximately 200,000 federal employees hired within the last year. I don't think anyone could argue there is waste within the government. However, does anyone really believe blindly firing 200,000 employees is the best way to reduce waste?” [The Oklahoman, 2/22/25]

  • Others wrote to express disappointment with Trump’s nominations and call for legislators to stand up to him

    • A “Republican for 50 years” wrote to the Miami Herald to call the confirmation of former Fox News host Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense “the last straw.” They wrote, ”I was a Republican for 50 years. Now I am a proud Independent. Since 2016, I have been more and more disappointed in what the Republican Party has become. ... The last straw was naming Pete Hegseth as Department of Defense Secretary. From there, it has gotten progressively worse." [Miami Herald, 2/18/25]
    • A “lifelong Republican” begged GOP representatives and senators to “get a backbone” and stand up to Trump and his allies. “Republicans were delighted when Donald Trump won the presidency in November, but now are too frightened of his vindictiveness to cross him regarding Elon Musk, RFK. Jr., Tulsi Gabbard and his executive orders. As a lifelong Republican, I plead with GOP senators and representatives: get a backbone!” [Miami Herald, 2/10/25]

  • Veterans wrote in to express worries over the potential loss of benefits and to defend birthright citizenship

    • An Army veteran wrote in to express dismay over the sudden firing of top military lawyers. “Although I was not in the JAG branch, during much of my active Army duty -- more than 50 years ago -- I was assigned to it and tried numerous courts martial, receiving a close but not insider's view. No group of lawyers in America is more committed to the rule of law and to doing what is right than those in our military. That all three top military lawyers were fired simultaneously demonstrates the reason was something other than cause, or dereliction of duty. Is it concerning? If it isn't, it ought to be.” [ Miami Herald, 3/3/25; AP News, 2/24/25]
    • A disabled veteran in Alabama wrote about his concerns that he might lose benefits due to cuts from DOGE. “I recently emailed Senator Tuberville expressing my concerns about my federal benefits: 'I am an 80-year-old 100% service-connected disabled veteran. I also receive Social Security and government pensions. I filed my tax return today and am due a refund. I am also on Medicare. I am very concerned with the actions of Elon Musk and his DOGE team. Can you assure me that I will continue to receive my federal benefits?'” [Montgomery Advertiser, 2/11/25]
    • A Navy veteran wrote in to defend birthright citizenship as a constitutional right, saying it “takes more than a whim of the president” to get rid of it. Responding to another reader who defended Trump’s executive order, they wrote, “There is no controversy at all. All persons born in the United States are citizens of the United States, and the state wherein they reside, even if their mother is not a citizen. If you and Trump want to amend the Constitution, it will take some work. Article 5 of the constitution explains the process. It takes more than a whim of the president." [The Dallas Morning News, 2/10/25, 2/16/25]
    • One veteran criticized the Trump administration decision to reinstate soldiers who refused the COVID-19 vaccination. Discussing the historical importance of military members being vaccinated, the writer explained: “Speaking as a veteran, the most illogical, unfounded executive order which followed was Trump's order to reinstate armed forces members who were discharged after refusing to have Covid-19 vaccinations.” [Arkansas Democrat Gazette, 2/2/25]