Donald Trump promised to avoid foreign entanglements and improve life for everyday Americans. So why won’t Congressional Republicans push back as he breaks those promises and pursues policies many Americans oppose?

An unnecessary and potentially open-ended conflict with Iran risks American lives, strains military readiness, depletes weapons stockpiles, and adds billions to our already staggering national debt. Meanwhile, families struggling with gas, groceries, and healthcare costs are told to accept cuts and sacrifices while huge tax breaks once again flow disproportionately to the ultra-wealthy. Trump himself recently said he isn’t thinking about Americans’ finances “even a little bit.” That sentiment is becoming painfully hard to ignore.

Trump and his family have already made an estimated $6-7 billion profiteering off this presidency. His Acting Attorney General is currently poised to pay Trump another $1.7 billion in taxpayer dollars to settle a baseless lawsuit in which he’s scheming to sue his own administration. This shameless self-dealing and corruption is more typical of Russian oligarchs or a third-world dictator, not the President of the United States.

Despite all this, Republicans remain silent.

The Constitution vests Congress with the power of the purse and the power to declare war. Republicans have displayed neither the integrity nor the courage to stand up to Trump and defend our Constitution. They need to be held accountable for violating their oath of office.

This November, voters need to remember that America deserves leaders willing to defend the Constitution and our citizens, not merely one man.

GEORGE POLYCRANOS

State College

Submitted by Virtual Newsroom