Dear Editor,

As the presidency of Donald J. Trump appears to continue in a most disturbing and alarming downward spiral, I fear that his shocking lack of competence, poor judgment, lack of any sense of professionalism, combined with his unparalleled arrogance and narcissism could very well seriously jeopardize the future of our great nation, both domestically and internationally.

President Trump has seemed to have completely morphed into his long-promoted alter ego of “The Donald” and conducts himself oftentimes as if he were a character from World Wrestling Entertainment, as he is often seen strutting similar to WWE Chief Executive/Owner Vincent. K. McMahon in his role as “Mr. McMahon,” where his action and words are exaggerated for maximum attention-getting effect. For the record, President Trump and Mr. McMahon have had a long and mutually admirable relationship, as President Trump had been a “performer” in WWE and has also been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, while President Trump has rewarded Mrs. Vince (Linda) McMahon to the past chief administrator/chairperson of the Small Business Administration in his administration.

Areas of recent concern include the unceremonious dismissal of the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, James Comey, with the president referring to Mr. Comey as a “showboat” and “incompetent” (words that have also oftentimes been used to describe our current president) and that Mr. Comey learned of his discharge via a televised news bulletin while delivering a speech in Los Angeles.

The lack of professionalism on the part of our president in this matter is quite disturbing, but for the president, sadly, typical. Perhaps such was a ploy to disrupt the FBI’s investigation into Russia’s alleged meddling into our recent presidential election on behalf of then-candidate Trump?

President Trump’s original appointment to the very critical position of national security advisor, Gen. Michael Flynn, had close ties to Russia and Turkey, receiving $45,000 in speaking fees from RT, a Russian government-funded news network, as well as $500,000 for lobbying work on behalf of the Turkish government.

Gen. Flynn stated he would offer testimony only if granted immunity and pledged to plead the Fifth Amendment if it was not granted, in order to avoid testifying on this area of grave national concern.

In the past, President Trump has vehemently accused others who have requested immunity and/or pleaded the Fifth Amendment while testifying before Congress of being guilty and/or hiding something, but strangely President Trump has issued no such statements regarding Gen. Flynn.

Perhaps it is appropriate that when Gen. Flynn’s name is mentioned the chant of “lock him up” should be heard, as he was so fond of directing the aforementioned words to Secretary Hillary Clinton during the recent presidential campaign.

Finally, President Trump’s disclosing of classified information to Russian dignitaries recently, which was done cavalierly and without apology by the president, is both reprehensible and inexcusable.

Ultimately, I fear such behavior from this president may well get even worse, and we, as a nation, and the world, will be left to suffer the consequences.

Richard Hord

Martins Ferry