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April 6, 2026
Trump is unfit for office. He should be removed ASAP.
April 6, 2026
Robert B. Hubbell
On Easter Sunday morning, Trump posted the following message on his social media platform:
Following his Easter morning social media post, Trump gave a number of interviews that repeated and extended the threat. He told ABC News that a peace deal was near, but that if it didn’t happen soon, there would be “very little” that was off-limits if a deal was not in place soon.
Trump said,
If it happens, it happens. And if it doesn’t, we’re blowing up the whole country.
Trump told the Wall Street Journal,
If they don’t do something by Tuesday evening, they won’t have any power plants and they won’t have any bridges standing,
Individually and collectively, these comments demonstrate that Trump is unfit for office. He should be removed ASAP.
The only reasonable interpretation of Trump’s comments is that he is threatening to wage war against civilian populations and infrastructure, actions that constitute war crimes under international law. A threat to “blow up the whole country” has no military objective and should reasonably be interpreted as a threat against the Iranian people.
Moreover, Trump mocked Islam by punctuating his threat to commit war crimes with a blasphemous invocation of Islam’s core expression of gratitude to God, “Praise be to Allah.”
Finally, Trump’s use of the obscenity in “fuckin’ Strait of Hormuz” illustrates a lack of self-regulation that is incompatible with holding the office of President of the United States.
In a healthy democracy, Trump would be impeached by the House and convicted and removed by the Senate, or replaced under the procedures of the 25th Amendment.
Will either remedy happen? Not likely, but that does not mean we should refrain from stating the obvious: No other president would remain in office for a week after issuing such lunatic, reckless statements.
The initial reporting of the American newspaper of record, the New York Times—like other major media outlets—did not publish Trump’s social media statement in full, even though the statement itself was news. Failing to quote Trump’s statement was a serious error of judgment borne of . . . what? Lack of confidence in the ability of their readers to handle the truth? A double standard that applies uniquely to Trump? The normalization of Trump? The failure to appreciate the significance of a threat to commit war crimes, combined with an obscenity-laced mockery of Muslims?
Answer: All of the above.
[In mitigation, the NYTimes recovered its journalistic instincts by Sunday evening with a news analysis article on the front page that not only quoted the statement in full but identified the statement as threatening possible war crimes and put the statement in context of similar statements. See NYTimes, Trump Revels in Threats to Commit War Crimes in Iran.]
But major newspapers were not alone in failing to call out the precise words and dire nature of Trump’s theat. The response (so far) from congressional leadership has ranged from non-existent to milquetoast. Republican leadership has ignored the statement, while Senator Chuck Schumer issued the strongest condemnation (as of Sunday evening), which stated:
Happy Easter, America. As you head off to church and celebrate with friends and family, the President of the United States is ranting like an unhinged madman on social media. He’s threatening possible war crimes and alienating allies. This is who he is, but this is not who we are. Our country deserves so much better.
While it is true that our country deserves better, that is not the same as declaring Trump unfit to remain in office and demanding his removal.
I understand that it is unlikely that Trump will be removed, but just as Trump has normalized threats of war crimes through repetition, we should normalize the proposition that Trump can and should be removed as president. The day may soon come when we must invoke the Constitution to remove or replace Trump. When that day arrives, it should not be the first time that the major media outlets and congressional leaders introduce that notion to the American public.
In the moment, it can sometimes be difficult to see obvious answers. Imagine, twenty years hence, when your children or grandchildren ask you how you reacted to Trump’s call to commit warm crimes against the Iranian people. Unacceptable answers include, “Nothing,” “I don’t recall,” and “I criticized his statement to anyone who would listen.” Compare, “I called for his immediate removal as president and did everything I could to make that happen.”
Trump is unfit to hold the office of president, dangerously so. We should say so, preferably in words of one syllable. No artifice, no euphemisms, no double standards, no defeatism, no learned helplessness. If we don’t call for his removal, what will our elected leaders think? We got a fair view of what they are (or are not) thinking on Sunday.
In fairness, Trump made his comment on a weekend that saw the overlap of three major religious observances. Let’s hope that Monday brings greater moral clarity. Trump has said he will destroy all bridges and power plants in Iran by Tuesday evening. There is time on Monday for members of Congress to make clear that such actions will result in his impeachment and removal from office.
Coda
I confess that I am confused about the state of affairs regarding peace negotiations. Major outlets are reporting that the Trump administration believes a peace agreement could be announced in the next day or so. The source for those reports is almost always Trump. See, e.g., The Guardian, Trump warns Iran to reopen strait of Hormuz by Tuesday or face ‘hell’ | US-Israel war on Iran. (Trump separately suggested that there is a “good chance” of an agreement with Iran on Monday, telling Fox News that negotiations were taking place. “If they don’t make a deal and fast, I’m considering blowing everything up and taking over the oil,” he said.”)
See also, Axios, US, Iran mediators discuss potential 45-day ceasefire, sources say. Per Axios,
The U.S., Iran and a group of regional mediators are discussing the terms for a potential 45-day ceasefire that could lead to a permanent end to the war, according to four U.S., Israeli and regional sources with knowledge of the talks. Why it matters: The sources said the chances for reaching a partial deal over the next 48 hours are slim. But this last-ditch effort is the only chance to prevent a dramatic escalation in the war that will include massive strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure and a retaliation against energy and water facilities in the Gulf states.
If there are “behind-the-scenes” negotiations that are nearing completion, the rhetoric of the parties does not match that state of affairs. Trump’s incendiary comments are noted above. The response by the speaker of the Iranian parliament also threatened widespread destruction. Per The Guardian,
Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iran parliament, responded to Trump’s latest threats in a social media post. “Your reckless moves are dragging the United States into a living HELL for every single family, and our whole region is going to burn because you insist on following Netanyahu’s commands.
Perhaps we will be surprised on Monday by the announcement of a cease-fire. Even if that happens, there is no excuse for an American president suggesting the commission of war crimes as a negotiating tactic. Indeed, bombings of civilian infrastructure began last week. See Democracy Docket, Trump Warns of “Much More to Follow” as U.S. Bombs Civilian Infrastructure in Iran.
US rescues second crew member from downed F-15
On Sunday, the US announced the rescue of the second crew member from a downed F-15. See Military Times, US special forces rescue second F-15 airman from Iran. The crew member was apparently unable to signal for help initially because he was knocked unconscious by the ejection and suffered a slight concussion. See Times of Israel.
According to the Military Times article, the US forces “encountered fierce resistance from Iranian forces.” The US lost three (?) aircraft during the rescue operation, according to varying reports. Per the Times of Israel, one US plane was unable to take off after it became stuck in the sand. Other reports describe “malfunctions” in US air equipment that resulted in their destruction by their US crews, who were then evacuated by lighter aircraft. Iran claimed that it shot down the aircraft that the US says it destroyed.
The rescue of the second US crew member is good news. The loss of four aircraft in the recovery of the two crew members provides an insight into how difficult ground warfare will be if Trump sends troops to invade Iran. The downing of the F-15 was the first loss of a US fighter jet in combat in two decades. See Military Times, US Military Aircraft Hit in Iran War are First Shot Down by Enemy Fire in Over 20 Years.
Concluding Thoughts
Trump’s post on Easter morning was shocking, alarming, and embarrassing. Frankly, it put a damper on my Easter celebration as I ruminated about the possibilities: Is he experiencing a mental breakdown and tilting at windmills? Are his threats serious? Both? Neither? Regardless, I was upset that I was distracted by those thoughts while celebrating Easter at Mass and enjoying a meal with family and friends.
But I also experienced a significant sense of collective embarrassment. Trump is the President of the United States. His words matter, no matter what. His mockery of Islam is reprehensible, all the more so because he claims to be a Christian. His indiscriminate threats against the people of Iran undoubtedly caused even more distress and anxiety among men, women, and children who have nothing to do with the horrific actions of Iran’s leadership. And the crass resort to obscenity and just plain lunacy of the post reflects badly on all Americans, even if our foreign friends understand that not all Americans support Trump.
After I wrote the above, I noted that a protest photo from Wilmington, N.C. prominently features a sign that reads, “Dear World, We are so sorry. Signed, Most Americans.” So I am not the only person feeling that way!
What can we do? We must continue to show the world that most Americans oppose Trump and share the same feelings of shock and dismay that they experience when they read the latest unhinged post by Trump. We must continue to protest in every way possible. We must continue to prevail at the ballot box by overwhelming margins. We must serve as examples of the once-and-future promise of America as a force for good in the world and as a reliable ally to everyone promoting democracy across the globe.
It will take years to repair the reputational damage and pain inflicted by Trump’s hateful posts. The best time to begin that rehabilitation is now—by building a strong resistance that limits the damage and (hopefully) shortens Trump’s tenure through impeachment and conviction or replacement under the 25th Amendment.
It is difficult to endure Trump’s ugly rhetoric. The antidote is to be the best Americans and global citizens we can be, in the hope that the rest of the world sees us and knows we represent America.
Pope Francis’ decisions to reduce his participation in two major Holy Week events had raised fears about his health.
My thoughts go especially to the victims of the many conflicts worldwide.
beginning with those in Israel and Palestine, and in Ukraine.
May the risen Christ open a path of peace for the war-torn peoples of those regions.
I appeal, once again, that access to humanitarian aid be ensured to Gaza,
and call once more for the prompt release of the hostages seized on last Oct. 7
and for an immediate cease-fire in the strip.
Amid renewed concerns about his health, Pope Francis presided over Easter Sunday Mass, and with a hoarse but strong voice, he delivered a major annual message that touched on conflicts across the globe, with explicit appeals for peace in Israel, Gaza and Ukraine. The appearance came after the pope decided to reduce his participation in two major Holy Week events, seemingly at the last minute. [...] On Sunday after the Mass, Francis took a prolonged spin in his popemobile around St. Peter’s Square before ascending to a balcony overlooking it to deliver his traditional Easter message. “Let us not allow the strengthening winds of war to blow on Europe and the Mediterranean,” he said to the tens of thousands of faithful, dignitaries, Swiss Guards and clergy filling the square. [color emphasis added]
Referring to the stone that had blocked the tomb of Jesus before his resurrection, which Easter celebrates, Francis said that “today, too, great stones, heavy stones, block the hopes of humanity.” “The stone of war, the stone of humanitarian crises, the stone of human rights violations, the stone of human trafficking, and other stones as well,” he said. [...] But his focus, Francis said, was particularly turned toward the conflicts afflicting the world. “My thoughts go especially to the victims of the many conflicts worldwide, beginning with those in Israel and Palestine, and in Ukraine,” he said, calling for the exchange of all prisoners between Russia and Ukraine. “I appeal once again that access to humanitarian aid be ensured to Gaza, and call once more for the prompt release of the hostages seized on 7 October last and for an immediate cease-fire in the Strip,” he added. [color emphasis added]
______________ video source for gifs
But thanks be to God who, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Corinthians 15:57
by H.B. Charles Jr | A strange scene erupted at Badger Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. Over 60,000 University of Wisconsin fans watched their beloved football team get beat by Michigan State. The more their team lost, the more the crowd cheered. As it turns out, seventy miles away, the Milwaukee Brewers were beating...
Chocolates!
Easter... What It Really Means
Happy Easter, friends. 💛I know for many of us, Easter can feel like a quiet day…family, food, maybe a bit of rest.But at its core, Easter is about Jesus.His sacrifice.And His resurrection.And if I’m being honest…that message hits differently when life feels heavy.Because it’s not just a story.It’s a reminder.That even after pain… there can be restoration.Even after loss… there can be life…
Easter 2026 Urbi et Orbi: The Globalization of Indifference
In his first Easter message Pope Leo XIV continues where Pope Francis left off last year and highlighted a social concern that troubled his predecessor, the globalization of indifference.
We are growing accustomed to violence, resigning ourselves to it, and becoming indifferent. Indifferent to the deaths of thousands of people. Indifferent to the repercussions of hatred and division that conflicts sow. Indifferent to the economic and social consequences they produce, which we all feel. There is an ever-increasing “globalization of indifference,” to borrow an expression dear to Pope Francis, who one year ago from this loggia addressed his final words to the world, reminding us: “What a great thirst for death, for killing, we witness each day in the many conflicts raging in different parts of the world!” (Urbi et Orbi Message, 20 April 2025)
Pope Leo is again addressing the state of war and global conflicts and suggests that “The power with which Christ rose is entirely nonviolent.” Our Holy Father wants us Catholics to accept the strength of Christ resurrection and what it means for how we respond to violence.
Brothers and sisters, this is the true strength that brings peace to humanity, because it fosters respectful relationships at every level: among individuals, families, social groups, and nations. It does not seek private interests, but the common good; it does not seek to impose its own plan, but to help design and carry out a plan together with others.
And what is the source of this great power, love, not just love for friends and family, but Agape, the universal love that interconnects all of creation in God. “This strength, this power, is God himself for he is Love who creates and generates, Love who is faithful to the end and Love who forgives and redeems.”
This is our first Easter message from our new Holy Father. A message we desperately need to hear in America.
I fixed the Easter Message from Trump this morning.
Simple is best!!!!
