Dear Donald
You may consider me impertinent to offer you advice, but as you have appointed your own daughter, Ivanka, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as presidential advisors, it would seem that qualifications and experience, in your opinion, are not prerequisites for the task of advising a president. Ivanka’s official title is “Assistant to the President”. That is the highest staff title held by anyone in the White House. Even your Chief of Staff is an assistant to the president. Jared Kushner’s title is, “Special Adviser to the President”.
In the absence of any established selection criteria for the roles that I could find, I am at least as qualified as your daughter and son-in-law. If nepotism was the sole criterion, I would not be eligible, but that was not an issue in your appointment of Ivanka and Jared, was it?
It is hoped that your family team will be working for the good of the country and not their own bottom line.
As a Baby Boomer you obviously have many years of “life experience”. I also was born in the same year as you, 1946, however, our life experiences differ markedly.
The only animals in association with your family of which I am aware, are the ones hunted and shot by your sons Donald Jr and Eric. The animals they like to shoot are leopards, elephants and other endangered wildlife in Africa. And, they do not restrict themselves to the African continent, in February 2020, Donald Jr received a permit to hunt Alaskan Grizzly bears in the state’s remote northwest region.
Personally, it is beyond my comprehension how anyone can want to kill any animals as a sport, let alone the magnificent creatures pursued by your sons.
Your sport, golf, is much more socially acceptable than the sport of your sons. But, your defence of your son’s sport is absolutely indefensible.
Getting a dog may help you in your understanding of the importance of other living things.
The pet you get does not have to be a dog. Other animals would suffice, but a dog is probably the best animal for starters.
There are many good reasons for having a dog as a pet. I shall give just seven of them below.
1. Dogs Relieve Stress
Everyone on occasions suffers from stress. It is a part of the human condition. You must surely find it stressful trying to keep your followers loyal by continuing to make them believe that you are, “draining the swamp”, and making “America great again”.
We know that playing with a dog can increase levels of the stress reducing hormone oxytocin and decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol. A 2001 study showed that patients owning pets could lower their blood pressure more than patients not having pets.
Just being around an animal can be sufficient to lower blood pressure.
2. Dogs Lead Us To Nature
Possibly the nearest you get to nature is the manicured lawns of your golf courses, when you are able to tear yourself away from your gold plated toilets and other trappings of wealth.
Dog owners will take their pets for walks in parks and nature reserves. This exposure to nature will help them appreciate the beauty of our natural world. This appreciation is something that money can not buy.
3. Dogs Offer Empathy
Empathy is a quality that all of humanity should possess if we are going to create a better world for us all.
Dogs have empathy for people, and can often read our emotional state. They really do care for us when we are unhappy.
Empathy is certainly a quality that many believe you have lacking. Perhaps with a pet dog you will learn to develop this quality.
4. Dogs Provide a Sense of Purpose
Our dogs can be like children to us. They totally rely on us for: water, food, shelter, play, and even medical assistance when required. Having a dog gives us an obligation to something other than ourselves.
I am aware that you have children, but with the exception of Baron, they are all grown up adults who no longer rely on you.
On second thoughts, I could be wrong there. Your first daughter Ivanka in her role as Assistant to the President, perhaps does rely on you. Your second daughter Tiffany, has however established herself successfully with relatively little assistance from you, probably from living on the other side of the continent.
But putting children aside temporarily, being a dog owner and carer gives the opportunity to show others that you are capable of having some responsibility regarding other lives and that all of your actions are not totally self-centred.
5. Dogs can Improve Your Physical and Mental Health
Already I have mentioned taking walks in parks with a dog. The regular exercise obtained by walking your dog will allow you to improve both your mental and physical health. Perhaps in due course you will be able to obtain a certificate of good health actually written by a qualified medical practitioner and not yourself.
6. Dogs Make Us Feel Needed
Dogs are obvious in the love they show for us. Wagging tails, being physically close to us and licking are all signs of this love that makes us feel needed.
I shall tell a personal story. Several years ago I was keeping several animals on my acreage property. Among these animals was a pair of Maremma Italian Sheep Dogs.
These furry friends would hear my car coming down the road when I was approaching home and greet me at my front gate. They would then sprint up the 200 metres or so driveway, do a lap around the shed and the house, to show me that they had been guarding the property, and then be standing outside my car door as I opened it with their tails wagging and giving me their “doggy smiles”.
Almost all dog owners will be able to relate stories about the love their animals show.
7. Dogs Help Build Relationship Skills
Dogs can change the perception we have of people. If a person you did not know was walking down the street, it would be unlikely that you would go out of your way to talk with that person. But, if that person was walking with a dog on a leash, you would be much more likely to go up to that person and say something like, “cute dog, what is its name?”. And, a conservation would likely follow.
Now Donald, it would be very unlikely that people would not recognise you if you were walking down the street. But, you do have a problem with people’s perception of you.
Amongst other things, the vast majority of people believe that you have severely damaged the relationship that former friends throughout the world have with America. If you were seen walking a dog, it would cause an immediate reassessment of people’s perception of you. After getting over their disbelief of what they saw, they may even start to believe that perhaps you are not completely lacking empathy for other living beings.
But wait, let me do a reality check!
In spite of my hopes and desires, there is absolutely no way that you are ever going to get a dog as a pet.
Nor is there any chance that whilst you are in power you will cease your mindless destruction of the environment and our natural resources.
Your legacy will be that you will remembered in history as one of the most dangerous people ever, possibly the most dangerous, to cause damage, and future potential damage, not just to the USA, but to this wonderful world in which we live.
We, the citizens of this world, and custodians of all other animal and plant life, have a limited time to get things right.
One essential and initial step is to get climate deniers, and planet destroyers, such as you out of positions of power.
The United States was once viewed by many other countries as leaders in the world. That is no longer the case with you as president.
Hopefully enough intelligent citizens of the US will work towards putting things right in November this year.
About the Creator
Ian McKenzie
Lover of life and all it has to offer. Retired from full-time employment, but keeping busy with things I am passionate about including: family, friends, photography, writing, sustainability and keeping Australian native stingless bees.
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Why Black History Matters in America?
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Former CNN Journalist Don Lemon Attends 2026 Grammys Following Arrest Over Minnesota Protest
Former CNN anchor and journalist Don Lemon made a high-profile public appearance at the 2026 Grammy Awards, just weeks after his arrest during a protest in Minnesota drew national attention and sparked debate about celebrity activism and freedom of expression. Lemon, who left CNN in 2023 and has since pursued independent media projects, was photographed walking the red carpet alongside prominent figures from the entertainment industry. His appearance marked his first major public event since authorities confirmed he had been briefly detained at a demonstration opposing new federal immigration enforcement measures in Minneapolis earlier this year. The incident and his presence at the Grammys have placed Lemon once again at the center of a polarized conversation about the role of journalists and public figures in political protests. The Minnesota Protest and Arrest According to police statements, Lemon was arrested during a large protest that formed near a federal building in downtown Minneapolis. Law enforcement officials said demonstrators had blocked traffic and refused repeated orders to disperse. Lemon was cited for failure to comply with lawful orders and released later the same day without serious charges. Witnesses said Lemon had joined a group of activists advocating for immigrant rights and police accountability. Video circulating on social media shows him standing near the front of the crowd and speaking with officers before being escorted away. Lemon later addressed the arrest on his social media platforms, describing it as peaceful and emphasizing that he had not engaged in violence or property damage. “I was exercising my right to protest alongside people who believe in justice and reform,” Lemon wrote. “This moment is not about me—it’s about the voices being heard.” His legal team confirmed that the matter remains under review by local authorities and that Lemon intends to contest any citation issued during the incident. Grammys Appearance Sends a Message Lemon’s attendance at the Grammys immediately became a talking point across political and entertainment media. Some supporters praised his willingness to continue public life despite controversy, viewing his appearance as a statement of resilience and commitment to free expression. Others questioned whether the Grammys stage was an appropriate venue for someone recently involved in a protest-related arrest. “He’s blurring the line between activism and celebrity spectacle,” said one media analyst. “It raises questions about whether social movements are being amplified or diluted by star power.” Lemon did not speak publicly on the red carpet about the protest but told one interviewer that art and social responsibility are deeply connected. “Music has always reflected struggle, hope, and truth,” he said. “Tonight is about honoring voices that move culture forward.” A Complicated Relationship With the Public Since his departure from CNN, Lemon has sought to redefine himself as an independent commentator and podcast host, often engaging with controversial political and social topics. His outspoken style has continued to draw both praise and criticism. 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Authorities in Minneapolis defended their handling of the protest, stating that arrests were made only after demonstrators blocked emergency vehicle routes and ignored repeated warnings. “Our priority was public safety,” a police spokesperson said. “We respect the right to protest, but that right does not extend to disrupting critical services.” Civil liberties organizations have criticized what they describe as aggressive enforcement tactics, arguing that arrests of nonviolent demonstrators risk chilling lawful expression. Lemon’s involvement has amplified attention to these debates, transforming a local protest into a national media story. Reaction From the Entertainment Industry Within the music and entertainment world, reactions to Lemon’s Grammys appearance were mixed. Some artists expressed solidarity with his activism, while others avoided commenting altogether. One Grammy attendee, speaking anonymously, said, “The night is supposed to celebrate music, not politics. 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By Fiaz Ahmed 3 days ago in The Swamp
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