Leadership Lost

Guest Opinion

By Gary Muller | Aug. 30, 2025

Last summer, my brother and I travelled to upstate New York to visit relatives. We visited Hyde Park, the home of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the location of his Presidential Museum and Library. This year, my wife and I visited Independence, Missouri, where President Harry Truman lived and where his Presidential Museum and Library are located. The National Park Service does a fantastic job giving tours and sharing historical facts about our country’s struggles and successes. These two gentlemen truly were the leaders of the Greatest Generation.

Their campaign promises were honored and their accomplishments were numerous. They led a country—that was first in a depression and then in the second World War—out of many dark days and an economic nightmare. The U.S. became the respected leader of the free world.

We were proud to be recognized as Americans by other democratic nations. Prior to Trump, the U.S. was seen as benevolent but always “carried a big stick” that was not seen as bullying or cruel, as Trump now governs.

FDR was elected based on his New Deal platform to bring the U.S. out of the Great Depression. His strong leadership and vision started the National Recovery Administration that created jobs for laborers and government workers.

DOGE, by the Trump administration, has failed by cutting jobs and essential government services. Elon Musk, the DOGE champion under Trump, has now said that his cost-cutting efforts have been wasted by the “Big Beautiful Bill” that has weakened the U.S. dollar and created enormous debt for decades.

FDR accomplished the Social Security Act for seniors and those who are disabled as well as the Works Progress Administration that provided useful work for millions of those unemployed. He had the leadership skills to create an alliance with Britain and the Soviet Union and signed the Atlantic Charter to show the United States’ leadership strength and to establish world order.

Trump is not able to end the Russia-Ukraine war or the Middle East wars. Trump’s tariffs and “Beautiful Bill” threaten decades of Social Security for seniors and the safety net healthcare for millions by cutting Medicaid benefits for needy citizens, fueling inflation at the same time. This is a perfect storm of take-aways from the least among us.

President Harry Truman was determined to build on FDR’s policies, and he did. He ended WWII and initiated the Marshall Plan to contain communism in Europe by providing economic aid to many countries in the world. He oversaw the formation of NATO that expanded the reach of democracy, with the U.S. being recognized as the world leader. Truman expanded the New Deal, raised the minimum wage, and addressed growing civil rights issues.

Trump has eliminated USAID to developing countries and has threatened all NATO countries economically with tariffs.

The accomplishments of the leaders commemorated on Mount Rushmore are all historic. President George Washington: a military leader and the father of our country, following the Revolutionary War to separate from King George of England (a simple, brutal bully like Trump).

President Thomas Jefferson: the primary author of the Declaration of Independence and leader who doubled the size and strength of America through the Louisiana Purchase. Trump blusters and threatens independent nations like Greenland and Panama to be taken over.

President Theodore Roosevelt: whose “Square Deal” domestic policies protected consumers and controlled corporations while conserving natural resources. The Trump Bill and tariffs are raising consumer prices and giving large tax breaks to wealthy corporations and individuals. He is planning to destroy many natural resources by allowing drilling and development in protected areas.

Arguably the person who united a divided nation and emancipated the slaves, President Abraham Lincoln defines leadership. As commander in chief of the Union forces, he mobilized U.S. forces and inspired the nation with his courage and speeches. He united our country rather than divided it as Trump has done. He did not tolerate racism and bigotry, cruelty or elitism, as seems to be Trump’s methods.

In my opinion, the Trump administration and Republican Congress show none of these leadership traits. In fact, he/they are unraveling decades of gains by FDR, Truman, and four presidents on Mt. Rushmore. DOGE and Trump’s cabinet have further torn apart the government infrastructure necessary to lead the world. It is time to honor the leadership of FDR, Truman and others to regain the U.S. world reputation that has been lost.

We can do this by demonstrating our opposition and participating in the “No Kings” marches and voicing our concerns in local Council meetings and forums. Contact your federal and state senators and representatives to express your opinion. Be proud to be an American and honor our forefathers, parents and grandparents who were bold enough to risk or lose their lives and possessions to build and to maintain our democracy. The goal should be to remove anyone who puts our democracy in danger, like Trump and Bergman have done, and support new, responsible leadership.

Let’s regain the leadership position that we have lost.

Gary Muller writes from Bellaire, Michigan.