I Served America for 44 Years, Trump’s Leadership Is a National Disgrace

As an African American man who has dedicated 44 years of service to the Department of Defense, 27 years in the United States Air Force with honor and distinction, and later as an executive with the National Security Agency, I have always believed in the promise of this nation. I wore the uniform proudly, stood shoulder to shoulder with men and women of every race and background, and worked to protect America from threats both foreign and domestic.

That is why I am deeply disappointed in Donald Trump’s leadership and the team surrounding him.

Trump’s policies are not only misguided, I believe they are racist, divisive, and dangerous to the unity of America and our credibility in the world. His administration has consistently failed to elevate women and people of Black and Brown communities into positions of real influence. His pardon of those who stormed the Capitol on January 6th is nothing less than a disgrace, and the Supreme Court’s decision to grant him immunity for actions while president undermines the very foundation of the rule of law.

The courts have not been silent about Trump’s conduct. He has been convicted on 34 felony counts in New York, indicted on dozens more at the state and federal level, and faces ongoing litigation related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Judges across the political spectrum have rebuked his legal team’s baseless claims of fraud, and multiple courts have documented efforts to obstruct justice. The Supreme Court itself, reshaped by his appointees, has handed down rulings that expand executive power while weakening protections for voting rights, women’s rights, and equal representation.

The record is undeniable. Trump maintained longstanding associations with Jeffrey Epstein, allegations about inappropriate conduct around young girls have drawn intense scrutiny, and a pattern of personal enrichment around the presidency has been widely reported. He blurred the line between public office and private gain , steering foreign dignitaries to his properties and raising troubling conflicts of interest, including high-profile gifts and benefits that raise ethical questions. He and his allies have pursued gerrymandering, voter suppression, and partisan redistricting schemes to entrench political power at the expense of fairness and equal representation. His cabinet members and close allies have faced ethics probes, contempt citations, misuse of federal resources, and other scandals that reveal a culture of self-dealing.

More distressing to me, and to many Americans, has been the deliberate attack on institutional protections and diversity efforts that keep our country resilient. The administration and its supporters have launched sustained campaigns to roll back Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in government and beyond, framing DEI as political rather than as a tool to improve organizational performance, fairness, and mission readiness. Critics point to the removal or defunding of DEI offices, the rollback of training programs, and public rhetoric that demeans the value of inclusive hiring, as actions that make institutions less able to recruit and retain talent from all communities.

This politicization of personnel decisions matters because national security and public health depend on competence and trust. There have been repeated reports of political appointees and cronies placed into critical positions, sometimes with thin resumes for the complex jobs they were asked to do, in agencies such as the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense, and the FBI. Whether by ideological litmus tests or loyalty checks, replacing experienced civil servants with underqualified political appointees weakens institutions charged with upholding the rule of law, protecting public health, and defending the nation.

Equally alarming is how the administration’s rhetoric and actions have emboldened violent and extremist elements. White nationalist and extremist groups have been increasingly visible and vocal, and many feel legitimized by signals from the top. When leaders signal tolerance or sympathies for those forces, it shifts the Overton window of acceptable public discourse, and it makes communities like mine feel less safe.

I also feel less safe in America today. During Trump’s tenure, racists and extremists have been emboldened. The country I defended has turned backward. As a veteran, I once proudly displayed the American flag outside my home. But after Trump’s return to office, I removed it, not because I stopped loving my country, but because I could no longer reconcile that symbol with what America has become under his leadership.

I still hold on to hope. But every day I see him weaponize the Department of Justice against political enemies, undermine the First Amendment, and chip away at democracy. For those of us who served, who risked everything to defend this nation, it is heartbreaking to see the values we fought for, equality, justice, and integrity, diminished at the highest levels of government.

America can and must do better. We must demand leaders who unite rather than divide, who respect the Constitution rather than exploit it, and who serve the people rather than themselves. We must protect the professionalism of our civilian institutions, preserve the gains made by DEI and equal opportunity, and reject the normalization of extremist violence. Silence is complicity, and for the sake of future generations, we cannot afford to be silent any longer.