Trump needs to apologize to families of those ICE killed | Your Turn - USA Today

Trump needs to apologize to families of those ICE killed | Your Turn

A Dow at 50,000 is no match for community compassion and empathy. I don't think this government represents me or the people I know.

Opinion Forum

USA TODAY

Feb. 28, 2026, 6:03 a.m. ET

I watched President Donald Trump's entire State of the Union address. It was full of untruths and half-truths, disrespect for Congress and the Supreme Court and self-adoration. I got tired of listening to the deception, and more tired of the Republicans who know better yet couldn't contain themselves.

I had hoped to hear more than a reiteration of Project 2025. I was disturbed by the insinuation that anyone ideologically different was somehow unwelcome, unworthy or crooked. It was wrong to see some Supreme Court justices and congressional Democrats absent and/or insulted. The lack of decorum was unbecoming. Trump took it to a new low.

I had hoped to hear a message suggesting the government was going to rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement ‒ along with an apology to families of Americans and immigrants killed and brutalized by federal agents. I had hoped there would be an apology to the Supreme Court and Democratic lawmakers who were legitimately representing views of the rest of us in our republic. I had hoped in our 250-year celebration there would be something to celebrate besides money for the wealthier Americans; and an economic plan for job creation, housing, education, Medicare for all, better food prices and safety in the streets.

50,000 Dow is no match for compassion

The speech did not affect my plans to vote in the midterm elections or my opinion of Trump. I think we need a U-turn on foreign affairs with focus on reconciliation.

I think we are making ourselves vulnerable by supporting Israel in Gaza; the Board of Peace as a stepping stone for Trump's emperor aspirations weakens us morally, financially and militarily; our immigration policy of erratic detention and deportations is killing our guest-worker economy.

The State of the Union was a big Trump-fest with little to offer us externally or internally except insecurity and confusion. A Dow at 50,000 is no match for community compassion and empathy. Political gridlock and disrespect show immaturity and a broken party system. We are better than this. I don't think this government represents me or the people I know.

The biggest issues facing America today are:

The need for fair immigration policy with pathways to citizenship in cooperation with the businesses who need workers

Universal health care

Reciprocal fair trade policies

A more equitable wealth system where those who make products can afford to buy those products

A national policy on housing for all

An upgrade in public education

A monitored food industry

Public safety that favors community welfare

We also need a more diverse and less complicit media, and leadership by progressive statesmen who are elected through fair campaign laws and who put our people first. We love our country and want to make it better for everyone.

— Dianne Farah, Washington

This piece was submitted as part of USA TODAY's Forum, a new space for conversation. See what we're talking about at usatoday.com/forum and share your perspective at [email protected].