Many Believe - “It Cannot Happen Here”

Over several decades of travel, I have experienced stark differences in cultures, societies, and political systems firsthand. I have learned that our shared humanity connects us— while governments and egocentric men often create the hostilities and divisions that separate us.

I spent nearly twenty years in Russia and Russian-speaking countries, along with significant time in Africa—especially Rwanda—where I worked on a World Bank poverty alleviation program that used microfinance to help turn local crafts into sustainable businesses. That was 25 years ago, but today some of these products are sold in US and UK department stores. I did a similar program in Bosnia after their internal war that was funded by USAID, and would love to do a similar project in Ukraine and have asked Senator Mark Kelly to help acquire Ukrainian permission.

The United States Agency for International Development was the brainchild of former President John F. Kennedy in 1961 - with the idea to counter the global influence of the Soviet Union during the Cold War. USAID was also the organization that funded the democratic restructuring of the Russian Constitution. Putin, who controlled Russian banks from 1994 forward, stole millions of dollars from this program that were later used to implement the newly expanded Russian Federal Security Services (FSB) - and used to plot against the United States and NATO.

On his first day back in office, Trump began systematically dismantling USAID through Executive Order 14169 (Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid), which froze foreign assistance for a 90-day review on January 20, 2025. The administration then issued on February 3, 2025, sweeping stop-work orders, canceled contracts and awards, furloughed staff, terminated the lease on USAID’s Washington headquarters, and moved its remaining functions under direct State Department control. (Wikipedia) He then created the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) with Elon Musk leading this effort.

The entire driving force behind this effort was Vladimir Putin who realized that USAID was the US government source of intelligence information fed to the CIA from 130 countries through quarterly “humanitarian aid” contractual reports. He also resented USAID for funding the restructuring of Russia’s Constitution, which aimed to move the country away from autocracy and toward democracy.

Two weeks after Elon Musk visited Moscow, USAID was shut down. The Lancet and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have reported that “approximately 22 million preventable but deliberate deaths are predicted by 2030 directly due from of the closing of USAID in Africa. Most of these deaths are children.” Both Elon Musk and Marco Rubio testified to Congress that “no child died on their watch.” A COLOSSAL LIE. Nicholas Kristof, a Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times journalist, traveled to Africa to document the deadly impact of USAID’s shutdown.

“New York Times opinion columnist Nicholas Kristof has reported extensively from East and West Africa on the surge in starvation and preventable child and maternal deaths following the sharp cuts and partial shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). His on-the-ground accounts detail how depleted medical stockpiles, halted ambulance services, and unstaffed health clinics and food stations have directly contributed to fatalities from malaria, HIV, and obstructed labor. “(AI Overview)

Assuming this projected number (22 million) is correct, this exceeds the savage number of bloodthirsty deaths caused by Stalin or Hitler - both bigots like Trump. Please consider this carefully and pass these facts on to others. This deliberate murder of Black people is no different than when Hitler massacred Jews or when Stalin starved to death millions of souls primarily in Ukraine. Without provocation or remorse, Mr. Trump set in motion policies that could lead to the deaths of millions of people, largely because they are people of color. We have seen similar bigotry reflected in ICE’s operations, and throughout his entire administration.

The very long apparent list of Trump’s presidential orders that coincide with Putin’s wishes or that benefit Russia and their allies, provide factual proof of Trump’s treasonous behavior. Pro-Russian hackers have claimed responsibility for taking U.S. airport websites offline, while other incidents—including uncontrolled wildfires, arson at U.S. factories supporting Ukraine, and cyberattacks on state government sites—show how vulnerable American infrastructure remains. Other attacks include online trading systems, subways, weather monitoring centers, and even voting locations. Trump has also pulled approximately 5,000 troops from Germany – responding to Putin’s request. The US has removed all remaining ground troops from Syria – another Russian ally, while he is now considering reducing the troops in South Korea. North Korea has acquired the ability to shoot a nuclear missile to Alaska in 15 minutes and to Los Angeles in 38 minutes. Without US troops in South Korea to quickly shoot down such a launch, the west coast of the United States is vulnerable - another request from Russia. Putin wanted the president of Venezuela removed, and Trump complied. For decades, Putin has openly sought to weaken NATO, and Trump’s actions have advanced that goal.

Many Americans believe it “cannot happen here,” but democracies rarely become autocracies overnight. As November’s election approaches, with many election deniers positioned to win congressional seats, American exceptionalism makes it harder for Americans to recognize the danger facing our country.

In truth, under Mr. Trump’s leadership, the United States has already moved beyond the earliest signs of democratic erosion. He sold his soul to Russia decades ago due to offers of business, money, and KGB women, and now he is moving our country from a democracy to a replica of the Kremlin - with the end goal as totalitarianism.