Donald Trump was sworn in as 47th President of the United States today. A key ally of his, Elon Musk, delivered a speech in which he performed the Nazi salute twice.
Trump has pardoned the January 6th insurrectionists. He has issued executive orders to outlaw gender-affirming references in the US government. He has declared an intention to impose a 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada. He is withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord. And so many other disruptive things.
I can’t spend the next four years in a permanent state of outrage, and as a New Zealander I am shielded by some degree of distance. But this kind of shit spreads far and wide and with our right wing government we’ll see it percolate through more and more.
I cannot change or influence events in the US, except in terms of where I spend my money. Dialing back from Amazon would be a good start, I think.
The best way for New Zealanders to reject Trump is to reject those here who share his views. I won’t play my part as the triggered woke lib whining behind a keyboard as right wingers bait and troll the left. I’ve got more substantive mahi to do.