Pardoning Donald Trump and The First Debate

June 19th, 2023

In most of my writings, I’ve made clear I do not like our former president. Despite identifying myself as a conservative Christian, former president Donald Trump’s rhetoric and actions before and after leaving office convinces me that he is an immoral, incompetent child who is unfit for higher office. Many of the legal issues he’s facing today are of his own making, but what would not be of his own making (and what he doesn’t understand) is complete forgiveness. I believe this is the best way to permanently get rid of him. Why do I say that?

Why pardoning Trump would dispel all his grievances and destroy his movement

The best thing the next president can do is pardon Donald Trump of whatever crime he’s committed. Whether it’s unjustified (Bragg case), controversial (classified documents) or serious (election meddling), the best thing for this divided country is to move on. Trump has promised retribution and revenge for all the “wrongs” done to him by the government. What better way to show you’re the better person by pardoning him, despite the mountains of guilty evidence? “When your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing so, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” Proverbs 25:21-22. Nothing will enrage him more by forgiving him. Why? All the grievances, arguments, anger, and supposed injustices that he has mobilized will all be washed away. He will no longer be persecuted, he will have nothing to complain about. Given that his whole movement is grounded upon supposed grievances and retribution, his campaign will most likely collapse, which would be the best thing for America.

1st Republican Debate

If I were Donald Trump, I would without a doubt skip the first debate. If the polling numbers for him don’t take a significant hit before the subsequent debates, then he shouldn’t participate in those either.

Debates in the past have given hope to relatively unknown candidates. Trump benefited from the first rounds of debate in 2016, and so did Barack Obama in 2008. They were not front-runners at the time, and they wisely used the debate stage in front of a national audience to state their credentials. Why should Trump risk giving a rival a chance when he’s the clear front-runner? He’d be enemy number one on that stage, and anyone would take a hit when everyone else is gunning for them.

Many commentators, including myself, hope he participates out of respect for voters and the nomination process. However, the only respect Trump has is for himself. The risk-reward tradeoff for Trump is terrible, and I predict he won’t be joining his fellow Republicans on stage this coming August.