Trump alienating our allies may bring dangerous consequences | Opinion

Since WWII’s end, the United States has protected much of the free world under our nuclear umbrella. The Donald Trump administration is now abandoning and antagonizing many of our allies. This is causing several countries to beef up their militaries, including investigating developing nuclear weapons.

This fact, with Putin’s desire to restore the Soviet empire, will result in a more dangerous world. The chances of another European war with a nuclear exchange will increase. Our defense treaties have kept us safe from a world war since the end of the last one. Our treaties and partnerships have kept us prosperous that whole time. Abandoning both is a recipe for disaster.

If the administration refuses to understand that, Congress should find a way to compel it to honor these relationships. So far, our senators have been silent. If they remain so, our blood may well be on their hands.

Eric Thomas, Durham

Durham schools

As the parent of two Durham public school students, I’m thrilled to say we have excellent teachers. However, the cuts in federal spending and inadequate funding for public schools is concerning. Our 5th grader had the most challenging year we’ve experienced with her math teacher leaving and the replacement taking extended leave. Before returning, a strong math substitute wasn’t available.

I hope this is not a sign of what’s to come. Strong teachers are the foundation that make Durham schools great places for our kids’ education. State dollars matter in our community to hire and retain high-quality teachers, providing a much more valuable than tax cuts for corporations. Pause income tax cuts in N.C. and fund schools to adequate levels to support our future.

Leigh Babaian, Durham

Tax cuts

“When you’re trying to get out of a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.” That old saw applies to the state legislature’s tax cuts of the last several years. Revenue is projected to decline in the next couple of years. This will further choke funds which are desperately needed for education, housing, childcare and hurricane recovery.

Gov. Josh Stein’s proposal to pause tax cuts makes sense in uncertain times. No one likes to pay taxes, but our state needs support now so we can have the future our children deserve.

Russell Outcalt, Holly Springs

Triangle research

Our premier universities are trimming research programs because Trump and Elon Musk have decided maintaining labs isn’t valuable. That means graduate students who hoped to research will not have a place. Faculty members won’t have grants needed to continue research that makes the U.S. a leader in science.

Federal science agencies are losing staff. Who will evaluate grants for universities? Who will do basic research? What will happen to the next generation of scientists? Will they come from India or China because we couldn’t educate them here? Senators, please assert yourself and protect researchers in the Triangle.

Janice Woychik, Chapel Hill

DAVE Act

The DAVE Act? Please! North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger is playing a joke on North Carolina. He’s also giving a wink to Trump and Musk and their undemocratic DOGE. This is no laughing matter. State Auditor Dave Boliek (get it? The DAVE Act?) maintains a straight face as he addresses his duties, but it’s impossible to believe he isn’t tickled.

What is a tickled civil servant going to do? I predict he’ll understand what his overseers want and make it so. Boliek will do Berger’s bidding and slash state jobs, eviscerate DEI in as many settings as he can and do what’s needed to continue the GOP’s lock on N.C.’s democracy.

Let’s see what Boliek the auditor will do. I predict more erosion of voting rights and more reduction of health care for underserved populations all in the name of saving.

Bob Kochersberger, Raleigh

Hands off

Regarding HB 595: Don’t like a book? Simple solution: Don’t read it. Or don’t let your kids read it. One set of right-wing parents (or legislators) has no right to tell others what to read, how to raise their kids, what their kids should read, or to prosecute trained librarians just doing their job. Stop HB 595. It smacks of communist-style government control. Free people read freely. Hands off our libraries!

Charles Winkler, Raleigh

This story was originally published April 6, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Trump alienating our allies may bring dangerous consequences | Opinion."