Dear President Donald Trump,

With everything happening in our nation, I feel compelled to share my heart. And as I travel across our great country, many of your supporters are praying for you to have godly wisdom and discernment to lead America to its destiny. While it seems you’ve learned some lessons from your first time in office, it also seems recent pressures are bringing out old habits.

Many of us who love and pray for you had hoped the attempts on your life would have brought about a little humility. We’re not seeing it. Even though you acknowledge God spared your life, that wasn’t primarily so that you could save America. Yes, God can change America through you, but He wants all of you first.

President Trump, you have surrounded yourself with very capable people. They each have gifts and talents you do not have. I’m sure they have differing opinions than you. A strong, secure leader can listen to those with differing opinions without criticism and rebuke. Why make enemies of those who want to see you succeed?

You started out well, but now you’ve begun to make some of the same mistakes you made the first time around by making enemies of those who could be allies. Strong leaders don’t need groupthink. That’s what the Democrats engage in. You need independent thinkers like Elon Musk. He’s a genius at what he does, as are you in the things you have accomplished. Together, you make an incredible team, but you’re now both acting like teenagers who react with anger instead of grace.

I hear Musk has apologized. I hope that’s true, and if he has, I hope you can show the same degree of mercy that our Heavenly Father showed you in Butler, Pennsylvania. There are tens of millions of people in America who want to see you succeed. When you go off message and attack others, even when you didn’t fire the opening salvo, you make us wonder if we did the right thing.

Millions upon millions of people who love America knew Hillary Clinton was not a consideration for our votes. The same goes for Joe Biden in 2020 and Kamala Harris in 2024. You won the majority of voters, but when you slander and attack other people’s character, you disappoint many of us who want you to be successful. The stakes are much, much higher now than they were four years ago. The Biden administration made America less safe, less prosperous, and less free. We know you can change that. Please don’t continue to engage in verbal battles that accomplish nothing but make you look smaller.

I know it’s hard for you to take constructive criticism. It would be easier to say nothing and just hope things get better. Remember, we’re the ones who voted for you because we know you can get us back on the right path. But that path doesn’t need unnecessary detours because of petty feuds and temper tantrums. It wastes time and gives your enemies ammunition to use against you. Don’t give them any reasons to thwart your presidency. I love this country. I served and bled for it. If you fail, there’s no place to go.

Please show us we made the right choice when we pulled the lever for you over Cackling Kamala. Millions of us are praying for you each and every day. We want you to succeed. You can do your part by being the stable, levelheaded leader who ignores needless distractions and just leads.

Make America Great Again!

Sgt. Roger L. Helle
United States Marine Corps (Ret.)