From Day 1, impunity for friends, fear for critics
By David French / The New York Times
America learned everything it needed to know about Donald Trump’s second presidency hours after it began. He pardoned or granted clemency to the men and women who violently stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. And he ostentatiously removed the security detail for John Bolton, his former national security officer, who had criticized Trump after an acrimonious departure from the White House.
The combination of those two orders sent the clearest possible message. His friends and personal allies would enjoy protection, favors and perhaps even immunity from the law. His critics and foes, on the other hand, should live in fear.
Virtually every significant event in his administration has followed that pattern. Why does he turn on Ukraine? Because he sees Volodymyr Zelensky as his enemy. It was, after all, a conversation with Zelensky that led to Trump’s first impeachment. Vladimir Putin, by contrast, has no comparable history with Trump.
How does Pete Hegseth escape accountability for one of the most grotesque violations of operational security in modern times? By being Trump’s friend and ally.
https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/french-from-day-1-impunity-for-friends-fear-for-critics/