Oct 9, 2025 2 min read

On Oct. 5, Donald Trump spoke in front of thousands of members of the United States Navy during what was meant to be a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Navy. At one point Trump stated, “We have to take care of this little gnat that’s on our shoulder called the Democrats.” While we assume that the president of the United States will be a president for all Americans, Trump continually uses name calling and dangerous rhetoric against 44 million Americans in an attempt to divide and threaten us. He refers to this 45% of the population of the United States as “the enemy from within.”

Say what you will about President Biden, but he continually made it clear that he was a president for all Americans whether you voted for him or not. In 2023, Biden traveled to Kentucky and celebrated with Mitch McConnell a nearly $1.4 billion award to build a new bridge connecting Kentucky and Ohio. Biden said to McConnell, “It wouldn’t have happened without your hand. It just wouldn’t have gotten done and I want to thank you for that.” That is the type of bipartisanship required to effectively run the country.

I have asked my congressman to speak out against Trump’s ongoing dangerous rhetoric explaining that 45% of American citizens should not be targeted and threatened by the president and his administration. This is objectively wrong and should be universally condemned.

And what do we get for this rhetoric? We get things taken from us: health care, education, renewable energy, clean air and water, scientific research, public lands, our freedom.

Trump may continue to use threats and name calling against democrats, but I am not afraid to fight against the tyranny of this administration and will continue to do so. I am not a gnat, and I am not an enemy from within.

Sharon Laffey

Retired Navy Chief

Buffalo Township