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White House can’t change truth of Jan. 6
Re: “Political divisions on Jan. 6 remain wide” (Page A1, Jan. 7).
We all saw what happened on Jan. 6, 2021. Donald Trump urged his followers to prevent the lawful transfer of presidential power, even though he lost the 2020 election by 7 million votes. He was immediately impeached for this. A majority (57 percent) of the U.S. Senate, including seven Republicans, voted to convict Trump and banish him from office forever.
All of this has been documented in excruciating detail — first by a bipartisan congressional committee, and later in the Justice Department’s own criminal investigation (“The Jack Smith Report,” dated Jan. 7, 2025).Shamefully, the official White House website now promotes Trump’s false narrative of a “stolen election” and blames everybody else, including law enforcement, for the events of Jan. 6. Taxpayers are funding this brazen assault on truth, written to appease an audience of one.
We won’t be fooled. The truth is what we all saw. Period.
Roy Verley
San Jose
Supporting red states is a drag on state economy
Re: “California’s sluggish economy merits more scrutiny this year” (Page A6, Jan. 6).
California’s economy is sluggish? Compared to what other states post-COVID? Publish some data.
Here’s some data. In 2022, per the Rockefeller Institute, California paid about $692 billion in federal taxes, getting about $609 billion back in federal spending. Where did our $83 billion go? Might that have something to do with our economy?
In 2024, per USAFacts, California paid $805.7 billion in Federal taxes, getting back $530.1 billion in Federal spending. Where did our $275.6 billion go? Maybe that has a little to do with our economy.
California, along with other blue states, subsidize the majority red welfare states that put the current regime in office. Look at the numbers. We’re the fifth-largest economy in the world in spite of all this. Nice job, Gavin.
Jan Pfuhl
Mountain View
Will killing by ICE agent rouse Congress?
Re: “ICE officer shoots Minneapolis driver during latest crackdown” (Page A3, Jan. 8).
Renee Nicole Good did not have to die today. ICE did not have to kill this young mother, yet they did anyway. Stepping out of her way was not an option. Arresting her later for de-escalation was not an option. Compassion and kindness were never an option.
Execution on the street by one’s own government should not be the new normal. A martyr gave up her life Wednesday, standing up for what she believed in. Tonight, the tide has turned. We need to say no more to all this. This madness sanctioned by Washington needs to stop, and it needs to stop now.
It is time to tell Congress that this administration can no longer stand for the people it serves. America has had its limit of injustice, corruption and immorality. We can tolerate no more fascism if we are to remain free.
Michael Alvarado
San Jose
Will MAGA supporters defend new imperialism?
Re: “Mr. President: You break it, you own it” (Page A7, Jan. 6).
President Trump’s “Donroe Doctrine” is American imperialism reborn.
Venezuela is but the first of many lands he wants to subjugate or otherwise control. However, imperialism is only effective when there are “boots on the ground.” This means that we must have more people in the military services.
Those who advocate and support Trump’s imperialism should be asked, “Who in your family is now serving or will serve in the military?” This should go no further than asking these questions. Any further actions, such as doxing or other illicit actions, will be stooping to the level of Trump and his ilk.
John Cormode
Mountain View
Congress must speak out against Trump
Re: “Trump says U.S. will ‘run’ Venezuela after swift strike” (Page A1, Jan. 4).
Where is Congress?
We invade a sovereign country and vow to take it over. This aggression against Venezuela is unprecedented, and yet Donald Trump continues to act unilaterally with no oversight. And he doesn’t even recognize the hypocrisy of accusing Nicolas Maduro of abusing the rule of law, punishing political opponents, expropriating the country’s private sector, curtailing human rights, using military forces to combat protests, and denying the results of a legitimate election. And the “Trump corollary” in December says the U.S. must politically, economically and militarily control the Western Hemisphere. Does this allow him carte blanche intervention wherever he sees fit? This is craziness.
“Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.” And apparently, no elected governing body will intercede. I cry for the United States of America.
Claudia Parker
San Jose
The Venezuela strike was a long time coming
Since late 2025, Donald Trump shifted from economic sanctions to military escalation against Venezuela to weaken the Maduro regime.
He ordered a total and complete naval blockade of all oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan ports. This is enforced by a massive U.S. naval armada in the Caribbean, including the USS Gerald Ford. U.S. forces have begun seizing oil tankers, such as the Skipper and Centuries, diverting them to U.S. ports with the intent to keep or sell the oil.
The U.S. military has conducted at least 35 strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, resulting in at least 115 deaths to stop the flow of illegal drugs.
Is the motivation for such acts the largest oil deposits, regime change or diversion from the Epstein files and affordability crisis at home?
Mohan Raj
San Jose
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