A Warning summary

In 44 B.C., the Roman statesman Cicero wrote De Officiis, a philosophical work detailing the four virtues necessary to become a great leader: wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance. Some presidents have lacked one or two of these virtues. President Trump embodies none of them.

The key message here is: Donald Trump is uniquely unfit for the role of president.

Trump’s critics have a saying about his political positions, “There’s a tweet for everything.” And in this case, the critics are right. If Trump has tweeted against something, there’s a good chance he’s also tweeted in favor of it. According to Trump, the Electoral College is both a “disaster for democracy” and “actually genius.” Attacking Syria? That’s both a great move and “very foolish!”

Trump’s flip-flopping and incoherent politics are the result of governing without principles. The truth is, the president has no true ideals and defers to convenience over convictions. Remember, this is a man who has changed political parties five times.

In November 2016, Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in the presidential election. For most politicians, taking control of the White House would be enough of a prize. Not so for President Trump.

Years into his administration, Trump is still fixated on his political rival. His obsession runs so deep that he frequently interrupts briefings with long, unhinged rants about Clinton. During one particular tantrum, he called out former Attorney General Jeff Sessions for not harassing the Democratic candidate enough. In typical Trump style, he yelled: “Man, he is one of the stupidest creatures on this earth God ever created!” 

In June 2018, representatives from France, Germany, and other major powers met in Canada for the G7 economic summit. Usually, leaders use these meetings to shore up partnerships and strengthen international relations. For Trump, it was just another venue to settle scores.

After arriving late, the president picked fights with his distinguished counterparts. He threw candy at German chancellor Angela Merkel. He mocked Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe with crude jokes about sending his country Mexican immigrants. He even insulted the host, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, calling him “dishonest and weak.”

The words of a president carry a special weight. Just think of Lincoln’s eloquent Gettysburg Address or FDR’s cordial and comforting fireside chats. The language we get from Trump is different. The phrases this president gives us are “fake news,” “nasty woman,” and “alternative facts.”

How a president speaks matters. It shapes the national discourse and sets the tone for how politicians and everyday Americans relate to each other. President Trump’s love for coarse language and inflammatory rhetoric does real damage to the nation.

In 2016, there were 17 candidates running in the Republican primary. Back then, if you had asked any Republican leader, Trump would have been their seventeenth choice. He was a joke. But now, three years later, no one is laughing.

So what happened? After Trump’s unexpected election night victory, the majority of Republicans changed their tune. Many who had criticized Trump now quickly became his allies. Senator Ted Cruz, who once called Trump “utterly amoral,” now calls him “bold” and “courageous.” During the campaign, South Carolina Representative Mick Mulvaney said Trump was one of “the most flawed human beings ever to run for president.” Mulvaney is now Trump’s third chief of staff.

For many people, the sooner Trump’s presidency ends, the better. Even those working within the White House have considered taking steps to oust Trump.

How would this happen? It’s tricky. Trump’s closest advisors would have to invoke a little-known provision attached to the Twenty-fifth Amendment. This constitutional power lets cabinet officials remove a president they consider unfit for its duties from office. If this were to occur, Vice President Pence would be left in charge.