Readers respond to Question of the Week: Chaos agent Trump on the right track?

Trump’s chaos

Donald Trump is very good at campaigning and political survival. However, Donald Trump is very bad at governing. Lie, distract or create chaos are Trump’s go-tos when cornered by his own bad decisions. Trump’s on-again, off-again, on-again, paused-again tariff policies are simply the latest example of someone unable or unwilling to listen to economic/financial advisors. I am certain the president believes “Trump was right about everything” stitched on Elon Musk’s baseball cap is accurate. Trump believes he is infallible. Until he’s not. Enter: “Hello chaos, my old friend” (apologies to Simon and Garfunkel). As for the question, is Trump “really playing four-dimensional chess here, gaming at a level few mere mortals can understand in his pursuit of greater economy for Americans? “If you believe that, remember the three Atlantic City Trump-owned casinos in which he filed Chapter 11 bankruptcies in the early 1990s. “Four-dimensional chess!” Let’s be honest. Many people are saying Trump is incapable of playing single-dimension bingo, even if his card was filled only with free spaces.

— Robert Aragon, Duarte

Trump is on the right track

Trump is calling for a renaissance of America. Moving America away from the persistent habits established by previous administrations over many decades that have created an enormous debt that now threatens our national security. Many goals are being pursued by the Trump administration to structurally change how America operates. Create a level playing field on trades, so America can sell what is produced. Build back our manufacturing base to create jobs and provide economies over the entire country. Reduce the size of government and control expenditures. Just to name a few. There will always be some pain associated with change because it takes time and effort. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

— Stephen Lucas, Van Nuys

Trump’s chaotic governing

It’s nerve-wracking to everyday people to see such drastic changes. Where is the steady hand? We will suffer for years with the cuts to services and tariffs on everyday goods. Trump thrives on being the center of attention and the whole world is watching.

— Mieke Sorrentino, San Pedro