President Refuses Responsibility for Harm

Letter to the LNP Editor; text as submitted May 3, 2026 

President Harry S. Truman famously had on his desk a sign reading “The Buck Stops Here.” He knew that as president he had ultimate responsibility for the consequences of his decisions and was clear that he was neither going to deny that nor blame someone else.

In contrast, we see time and again the current president’s refusal to take responsibility for any harm resulting from his decisions or those of the officials who serve under him. He appears to have no desire to assume legal or moral responsibility for what happens during his presidency. Thus cruelty and lawlessness run rampant in his administration, with virtually no one in top offices willing to stop them.

For example, here is a partial list of deaths caused by his policies, as of May 2, 2026, since he regained office in January 2025:

• ·         Two homicides in Minneapolis and 46 additional deaths in ICE detention
•  ·       Fifteen U.S. service members killed in Iran, plus over 500 injured; 1701 Iranian civilians killed
•  ·      185 small boat sailors killed in the Caribbean and Pacific, accused of drug trafficking with no proof and no due process
• ·        More than 762,000 deaths (estimated) in African countries due to the termination of USAID 

By 2024 Trump’s history of racism, abuse, and corruption was well known, yet a plurality of voters chose to return him to the White House. Our nation is now suffering the results. To restore some decency and justice, we must work hard to elect in November lawmakers who will begin to repair the damage.

The Sin of Slavery

In her speech to the Democratic National Convention last month, Michelle Obama spoke with poignancy about the fact that she, the descendant of slaves, was now living in a great mansion built by slave labor. “That is the story of this country, the story that has brought me to this stage tonight, the story of generations of people who felt the lash of bondage, the shame of servitude, the sting of segregation, but who kept on striving and hoping and doing what needed to be done so that today, I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves, and I watch my daughters—two beautiful, intelligent, black young women—playing with their dogs on the White House lawn.”

Her speech was an acknowledgment of where we as a country have been and a recognition of how far we have come.  Sadly, it was met almost immediately by some who objected to any mention of the legacy of slavery, and by others who questioned the truth of her words.  Researchers countered the latter with clear evidence.  The White House and the Capitol building were constructed with both slave and paid labor.  Though records are spotty, and it is not possible to determine precisely what percentage of the work was performed by slaves, there is documentation of 385 payments made to slave owners for “Negro hire” (a euphemism of the day for the rental of slaves) between the years 1795 and 1801 by the commissioners in charge of constructing public buildings in the District of Columbia.