To the Editor:
Re “Trump Posts, Then Erases, Racist Video of Obamas” (front page, Feb. 7):
Many Republican leaders purport to be shocked, shocked that President Trump posted a blatantly racist video. I understand their distress. Mr. Trump has uttered, circulated and relied on racist slurs for decades, but they commonly afforded a thin — very thin — veneer of deniability.
The president is no longer bothering. And he refuses even to apologize!
Why should he? Donald Trump is being his authentic self. White supremacy represents the consistent theme and the one sincerely held belief that has preoccupied Mr. Trump for his entire life. The only issue for Republican officeholders is whether, after they’ve dried their crocodile tears, they will induce their party, which has ridden to power with appeals to white fears and resentment, to change direction.
We all know the answer to that question.
Mitchell Zimmerman Palo Alto, Calif.
To the Editor:
I have voted for many Republicans over seven decades, but I will never support any politician who will remain silent about our president’s overt racism. How any Black, brown, white or any other human could vote for Republican cowards who approve of this racist is beyond my comprehension.
I am so sorry that this embarrassment to everything that is moral and humanistic, and his subservient cronies, represent the United States of America in the 21st century. I have never been ashamed of our nation, but I am deeply ashamed of its current leadership.
Robert D. Diamant Staten Island
To the Editor:
Let’s see if I have this right: The president of the United States, the president of the United States, yes, the president of the United States in the last several months has posted a video of himself flying in a fighter jet spreading excrement over demonstrators, badmouthed Rob Reiner after his murder and portrayed the Obamas as apes. Really, the president of the United States?
George Schroeter Halfmoon, N.Y.
Bad Bunny’s America
To the Editor:
Re “Trump Criticizes Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show” (news article, nytimes.com, Feb. 9):
I watched the Super Bowl halftime show. I can’t speak Spanish, but here’s what I learned:
Bad Bunny is a celebration of joy, happiness and life.
President Trump, Vice President JD Vance and MAGA are a celebration of darkness, anger, fear and resentment.
Republican voters, what kind of America do you want to live in?
Geoffrey S. Poor Shoreline, Wash.
Trump vs. Harvard
To the Editor:
Re “Talks on Harvard Deal Veer Into Uncertainty After Trump’s Attack” (news article, Feb. 5):
Given President Trump’s vainglorious temperament, one wonders if Harvard were to offer the president an honorary degree whether he would soften his extortionate demands and make a deal with the university.
Michael Scott San Francisco
Medical A.I.: Use With Caution
To the Editor:
Re “Stop Worrying, and Let A.I. Help Save Your Life,” by Robert Wachter (Opinion guest essay, Jan. 22):
Dr. Wachter is right to argue that medical A.I. should be compared to the real alternative: a strained system in which delays, documentation burdens and fragmented records harm patients every day. I also appreciate the “walk before you run” approach — deploying A.I. first for lower-risk administrative work while measurement and oversight mature.
The next step is making comparisons that are clinically honest: Evaluate A.I. against usual care by task and risk tier, and require stronger evidence and monitoring as autonomy and stakes rise. In settings like geriatric psychiatry, in which cognition, loneliness and trust are central, patient-facing tools should include clear disclosure, meaningful consent, crisis pathways and accountable governance.
If we measure thoughtfully and govern responsibly, we can reduce the burdens, improve access and protect patients — without either hype or paralysis.
Helen H. Kyomen Boston The writer is geriatric psychiatrist.
The post Lamenting ‘Our President’s Overt Racism’ appeared first on New York Times.
