Letter: What will Trump be remembered for?

Published 10:59 am Friday, December 12, 2025

In response to the “Democrats to blame for lawless immigration situation” letter on Nov. 29: Yes, Biden will be remembered for his failure to manage the border. And considering that both Democrat and Republican administrations have failed for decades to resolve border security and immigration reform issues, there is plenty of blame to go around. Let’s remember it was Trump’s pressure on Republicans that tanked the Border Act of 2024.

If the border is Biden’s legacy, what will Trump be remembered for? Will it be for his presidential pardons of approximately 100 drug traffickers, most notably Ross Ulbricht and Juan Orland Hernandez? Or pardons for political allies, donors and business associates who engaged in fraud and money laundering (wiping out over $1 billion in fines and restitution owed victims).

His tariff policy that has businesses struggling, farms failing and consumers hurting. His disconnect from reality — claiming rising costs, unfavorable economic data, climate change, and the Epstein case are a “hoax” or “scam.” Will it be for wasting taxpayer money — $900 million to renovate the “free” plane from Qatar.

Or for $11.5 billion annually going to private companies in lucrative, no-bid contracts for construction and servicing immigrant detention centers. Or $1-3 million taxpayer dollars per visit to his private properties (129 visits in 2025 so far). Over $200 million spent on the military campaign targeting Venezuela.

Or will the legacy be enormous tax breaks for the wealthiest 1% and turning the presidency into a family money-making machine (an estimated $2 billion in one year), while cutting off food and medicine to the world’s poorest people.

CAROL MERWIN

Astoria