Trump, Musk evoke dueling views

When I wrote my master’s thesis about the Munich Agreement of 1938, I never would have imagined witnessing a mirror image in 2025.

Having a conference about Ukraine’s fate without inviting any Ukrainian representatives is the prescription that led to World War II [“U.S. talk worries Europeans,” News, Feb. 17]. The attempted appeasement policy only encouraged the ultimate takeover of all of Czechoslovakia by Adolf Hitler and Germany after assuring England that only the western and northwestern Czechoslovakia border with 1938 Germany, the Sudetenland, would be occupied.

This is the same ploy being used by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia to ultimately occupy and annex the whole of Ukraine. After returning from Munich, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain said, “Peace in our time,” allowing Germany’s annexation of the Sudetenland. There’s little doubt that President Donald Trump will echo that falsehood today, nearly nine decades later.

— John J. Mlinarich, Ronkonkoma

The writer taught European history at Smithtown High School and Dowling College.

It isn’t surprising but alarming to see the Department of Government Efficiency looking at areas that affect everyday working Americans to cut the $2 trillion from government spending [“Musk team looks into Medicare, Medicaid,” LI Business, Feb. 6].

Perhaps looking at government contracts, tax cuts for the wealthy, and loopholes for the rich would be a better place to start. But that may mean the SpaceX contract could be cut. Billionaires in charge will “look down” at Medicare, Medicaid and similar programs to find cuts. Would they ever “look up” at themselves? They don’t love our country; they love money and power.

Cuts to health insurance programs are not red or blue — they are purple.

— Teresa O’Halloran, East Islip

Since when is it a terrible and fearful action to stop waste, root out corruption and greatly reduce a bloated bureaucracy so government can work efficiently for the people? This is what the electorate voted for.

— John Romano, Baldwin

Who are these DOGE members going into government offices and grabbing records and data? Isn’t it interesting that a cadre of non-governmental people were apparently ready to dive in on day one of this administration?

Donald Trump’s ally Elon Musk has a “department” of people at his beck and call. I suspect they are his own employees, past or present and have no security clearances or “official status.” If true, we have gone totally over the edge and there is no longer a rule of law. Who are these people doing his dirty work?

— David Napell, East Rockaway

When Willie Sutton was asked why he robbed banks, he replied, “Because that’s where the money is.” When Democrats ask why the president’s team is checking government books, he should reply, “Because that’s where the waste is.”

— Thomas K. Buckley, Northport

Act now, Americans. A constitutional crisis lies ahead of us. Where will you stand? What if the president decides to disobey an order from the Supreme Court? When and if Donald Trump decides this, we would have a dictator as our leader, and it will mean the end of our democracy. Get ready for that day — for evil exists when good men stand by and do nothing.

— Eugene Reynolds, Ridge

So it’s OK with the Democrats that former President Joe Biden defied part of the Supreme Court’s ruling to cancel billions of dollars in student debt. Donald Trump wants to open the books and expose even more wasted taxpayer money, and the Democrats flip out. Something is wrong here.

— Raymond P. Moran, Massapequa Park

It is frightening that Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who was never elected, are purging the government of anyone who might oppose them. Our Constitution protects freedom of speech.

Thousands of FBI employees have received termination notices because they investigated Jan. 6 insurgents who tried to overthrow our government at Trump’s urging. This is what the Nazis did in the 1930s — purging the German government of anyone who might oppose them.

These two men think they answer to no one, and our FBI and Treasury Department are their playthings. Career FBI and Treasury employees deserve better. Where are the ethical, decent Republicans to speak out against this? Vladimir Putin is celebrating.

— Rhonda Weintraub, Kings Park

Vice President JD Vance lecturing European leaders on the virtues of democracy is like having Walter White, the “Breaking Bad” antihero chemist, instructing students on substance abuse [“Listen to voters, Vance lectures European leaders,” Nation & World, Feb. 15].

— Michael Cooney, Massapequa Park