WHEN ASKING FOR MERCY IN AMERICA CAN PUT YOUR LIFE IN DANGER 

By Jeff Kamen

Think for a moment about the hundreds of people convicted of brutally beating police on January 6 2021 who owe their new freedom to Trump’s pardons. As they were being released from prison, the Trumps were at an interfaith service at National Cathedral. When that Bishop bravely asked President Trump to show “mercy” to Americans who fear him—especially immigrants and gays—those were the looks POTUS and FLOTUS gave to the Bishop (photos below). 

If I was that brave Bishop’s boss, I would make sure that she has a serious security detail around the clock. In the America in which we now live, by embarrassing Trump, by making him uncomfortable, she has put herself in potential personal danger. Even without Trump saying a single additional word about it to anyone. 

Everyone saw the Bishop confront him at the service on TV and later, everyone saw his upset reaction, his discomfort on camera at the White House when he was questioned by a reporter about what happened in church. 

In my opinion, based on my decades of study of terrorism and the phenomenon of intense devotion to Trump, there is a high likelihood that there will be someone who will feel that it is incumbent on them to act to defend Trump‘s honor.  

Risk to the Bishop could be sharply reduced if Trump were to publicly say it is his profound personal wish that no one approach her say anything to her or do anything to frighten her or hurt her. Failing to do that would be dangerously irresponsible and were something untoward happen to the Bishop who asked him to be compassionate to the frightened, Trump would face political consequences.

(Please note: I am co-author with Robert H. Kuppermsn of the book, “Final warning: Averting disaster in the New Age of terrorism,” published by Doubleday in 1989).