With each passing month of his presidency, Donald Trump behaves more like America’s commander in thief than its commander in chief. Thomas L. Friedman Opinion Columnist
This article was written by Thomas L. Friedman, one of the most well-known opinion columnists in the United States.
Who Is Thomas L. Friedman?
- Born in 1953 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Has worked for The New York Times since 1981.
- Won three Pulitzer Prizes for his reporting and commentary.
- Served as a foreign correspondent covering the Middle East and international affairs.
- Known for writing about globalization, technology, economics, international relations, and American politics.
- Author of several bestselling books, including The World Is Flat (2005), which explored the impact of globalization and technological change.
Why his background matters
- He brings an international perspective to American politics
- He often evaluates U.S. democracy by comparing it to other systems
- He is widely read — and widely criticized
🎯 Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Define political corruption and explain why it threatens democracy
- Distinguish between news reporting and opinion writing
- Analyze how evidence, language, and framing are used to persuade readers
- Evaluate the credibility and perspective of authors and media institutions
- Make informed predictions about the future of democratic systems
Important Quotes
“There has never been an example of presidential corruption like this.”
“Deterring Trump’s America is now becoming a strategic priority of our allies as much as deterring Russia was,
“One year ago, Donald Trump took an oath to serve the American people. Instead, he has focused on using the presidency to enrich himself.”
Text Analysis: Evidence and Argument (Small Groups)
Students work in groups to answer:
- What specific examples does the author use?
- Which arguments rely on facts, and which rely on interpretation?
- What language is emotionally charged?
- Where might critics say the author goes too far?
Link to article here: The New York Times
Critical Thinking Activity
Looking Ahead: Where Will We Be in 2.5 Years?
The article raises concerns about the future of American democracy.
Task:
Write a reflection (250–400 words) answering the following question:
Where do you think the United States will be in 2.5 years (late 2028)?
Consider:
- The strength of democratic institutions
- Public trust in government
- Political polarization
- The role of media and social media
- Relations between political parties
- Whether the concerns raised in the article will have increased, decreased, or stayed the same
Support your predictions with evidence from the article and your own knowledge of current events.
Trump completely lost it and walked out of his NBC Meet the Press interview with Kristen Welker, and in this video, I’m giving you the exact psychological breakdown of why he was so triggered. We are putting a lens on four specific clips to expose his psychiatric disorder and its associated behaviors, from delusional omniscience and aggressive gaslighting to the primitive black-and-white defense mechanism known as splitting. This is a textbook look at what happens when a fragile, grandiose ego gets cornered by cold, unyielding facts and completely implodes on national television. Watch closely, because this is exactly how brave, well-prepared journalism strips away the illusion of absolute dominance and exposes a bully.
