Readers respond to Question of the Week: Is Trump not to be taken too literally?

Trump should definitely be taken literally as he talks

Look at his words. He’s made it abundantly clear that what he really wants is to be dictator for life. (e.g., “You’ll never have to vote again.”) Also he believes only in “looking strong” and thinks, for example, that American veterans are “suckers” for serving their country. The U.S. has come to an existential moment in its history: we can elect Trump and watch this country perish, or we can somehow defeat him and still have a chance for survival in this increasingly dangerous world.

— Patrick M. Dempsey, Granada Hills

Trump’s rude and crude words are not concrete

Yes. The people who get in a dither are concrete thinkers. Yes, Trump is rude, crude and coarse, but he is funny as the Don Rickles of politics. When he is interviewed off stage he is prudent, yes prudent. I suspect that a lot of people who take umbrage and are in high dudgeon were reared in an hermetic society that did not allow or encourage fighting one’s own battles. So they ended up being offended at any banter and singularly lack a sense of humor. Trump and whose army would impose a dictatorship?

— Mary Emily Smiley, Lawndale

Trump does exaggerate at times, but that’s Trump

Whether it is making a multimillion-dollar real estate deal or running for president,

Donald Trump has always been a pitchman. That means he does not outright intentionally lie, but he always exaggerates. That will never change, it is in his DNA, and I believe that those who follow him understand. It is funny how those who attack his every word are usually the ones who intentionally lie and misrepresent them to gain political advantage. The greatest misunderstandings revolve around his economic policies that lower taxes for all, decrease regulations, increase energy supply and use tariffs to encourage fair trade. Keynesian economists cite loss of revenues that will lead to increased deficits in the short term. They are living only in the moment while Trump is living in the future where the benefits of the policies will lower costs and grow the economy, which will dramatically increase tax revenue. History is on the side of Trump.

— Stephen Smith, Eagle Rock