When we turn on friends, all security is lost

In Fishkill, New York, Daniel Dolgicer’s voice resonates with concern over President Trump’s alarming and unrealistic threats towards Greenland and Denmark, a NATO ally. Trump’s apparent lack of understanding extends beyond geography to encompass U.S. history, despite efforts during his first term to enlighten him. His top military and foreign policy advisors endeavored to educate him on NATO’s foundational principles and its crucial role in safeguarding U.S. national security and economic wellbeing. Regrettably, Trump’s insistence on following his “instincts” and deliberate disregard for factual and historical knowledge overshadowed these efforts.

Denmark, one of the earliest European nations to join NATO, swiftly came to America’s aid following the September 11 attacks. In terms of per capita military casualties, only the U.S. and the U.K. have endured greater losses than Denmark. It is questionable whether Trump is aware that the U.S. invoked NATO’s Article 5 for assistance, with Denmark and other allies promptly rallying in Afghanistan and Iraq. Furthermore, Denmark’s heroic resistance during World War II, where they bravely ferried Jewish citizens and refugees to safety in Sweden, stands as a testament to their commitment to freedom and human rights. Instead of dismissing this legacy in pursuit of one of Trump’s most outlandish notions, it deserves our respect and honor.

As Dolgicer highlights, Trump’s propensity to align with adversaries while undermining allies is a daily occurrence. His betrayal of Ukraine is a glaring example, with Vladimir Putin seemingly savoring the discord with a NATO member. Gerald Browne

Off the rails

From Davidson, North Carolina, concerns escalate over the potential dangers in Trump’s proposals. His apparent mental decline is noticeable, with his speeches becoming increasingly incoherent. The notion of acquiring Greenland risks inciting conflict with Denmark and other NATO countries. It appears Trump misunderstands NATO’s essence, possibly envisioning a strategy reminiscent of Putin’s aggression towards Ukraine. Any attempt to move U.S. military forces into Greenland could be perceived as an invasion. This raises the question: what would Trump’s reaction be to a similar scenario involving China and Taiwan, or if another nation deployed troops to a U.S. Pacific island, claiming protection? Sorrell Chesin

One letter off

In Macungie, Pennsylvania, Bob Smagula suggests that before Trump dreams of receiving the coveted “NOBLE” prize, he should first learn to spell it correctly. Bob Smagula

Catastrophized comparison

From Astoria, Fred Portoff challenges the comparison of enforcing federal immigration laws to historical regimes, asking how expelling individuals without legal status equates to the actions of Hitler’s Germany, Mussolini’s Italy, Putin’s Russia, Xi Jinping’s China, or Latin American juntas. Bradley Morris

Pull that purse

Kitchener, Ontario: Even Americans who voted for Trump must be disturbed now: masked ICE agents kidnapping fathers and mothers from their workplaces, teargassing women and children and beating, shooting and killing innocent civilians who are no threat to them. It’s like a newsreel out of history, or a TV report from Iran. U.S. citizens have leverage to make this violence stop. The 2026 funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, including ICE, still needs to be passed by Congress. But ICE already gets more funding than all other federal law enforcement agencies combined. So call your representative and both of your senators and urge them to do two things: 1) Make sure ICE gets no additional funding. 2) Force ICE agents to obey the law — ban masks, require body cameras and make it known that any agents who commit crimes will be prosecuted just like anyone else. Albert Daigen

Could be you next

Manhattan: The president of the United States / Has declared war on our country / Boots on the ground in Minneapolis / ICE agents depriving citizens of justice and liberty / Show me your papers / What is your name / Where were you born / Have they no shame! / Dragging folks / Out of their cars at will / Breaking windows / And shooting to kill / This is not America / We’re living in a nightmare / Stand up for the Constitution / Speak out, show you care / Don’t wait until you are / Facing the barrel of a gun / The next target of a masked, armed agent / Could be anyone / Now is the time / Hear my plea / It is up to us / To save our democracy. Phoebe Celentano

All for the votes

Howard Beach: To my fellow Voicers: Thank you for your comments. Next subject is Gov. Hochul. Do you know that our property taxes increase automatically every year thanks to past actions from our present governor? And she wants to increase state taxes. Congestion pricing is subject to increase after 2026 for drivers going into Manhattan. New York has the highest taxes in the entire country. So why does she want to do this? It’s simple: to pay and support immigrants so they don’t have to work, pay for their health care, and in turn will vote for every Democrat running for office in New York. So you can attack me any way you want, but remember, you’re paying to support people who dislikes us, talk bad about the American people, and for some of them to do harm to us. Now who’s the smart one? Nick Di Pasquale

Lipstick on a pig

Brooklyn: The other night, I was watching the news and who popped on the screen? Gov. Yokel, Mayor Madmani and Lady Tisch. They all were touting the drop in crime in NYC in 2025. I read your paper every day and on a daily basis there is either one or multiple shootings, stabbings, etc. If this means anything, one shooting a day means at least 365 a year. I realize they must push these low crime figures to not scare prospective tourists who the city depends on for the money they spend here. I assume none of the three stooges read your paper because if they did, they would not have had the gall to stand in front of the cameras touting this drivel, which is an insult to the intelligence of most New Yorkers. Dominic D’Allesandro

City-run

Brooklyn: I’m happy to hear Mamdani is enforcing city laws regarding housing. But it’s easy to go after private companies. My question, Mr. Mayor, is when will you begin cleaning the city’s housing disaster known as NYCHA? We pay taxes to provide safe housing for those in need. NYCHA is responsible for up to 2,500 buildings. Our neediest neighbors live in abhorrent conditions, subject to crime, broken elevators and no heat for months. I suggest you start cleaning your own house, sir. You are now the landlord for a half-million residents. Susan Caprio

Dead by delay

Manhattan: Hochul threw her executive weight behind the cap-and-invest program that the Climate Action Council carefully articulated in the Scoping Plan ordered by the Climate Leadership and Climate Protection Act (CLCPA). But then she did an about-face. She repeatedly delayed the DEC and NYSERPA putting the final regulatory touches on the program. Behind the fossil fuel and business lobbies, these delays stand as the third most forceful obstacle to New York’s fulfilling its CLCPA clean climate objectives. When defeated in court, she defended her delays in the court’s appellate division. Now Hochul tells the world she’s turning to five gigawatts of nuclear energy – calculated to cost, based on Georgia’s recent 15-year-delayed nuclear project, $80 billion in yesterday’s dollars. She’s effectively throwing CLCPA’s clean energy over in favor of the fossil fuels we’ll be inhaling (at health costs of $48 billion per year) until her nuclear kicks in. Thomas A. Caffrey

No such record

Brookfield, Conn.: Let me see if I have this straight. John Harbaugh has been a head coach for 18 seasons, and during that time his teams have won exactly — drumroll here, please — one Super Bowl. But for a mere $100 million, he’s going to lead the Giants to the promised land. You’ll pardon me if I don’t hold my breath waiting for that to happen. Bob Lovell