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To the Editor:

Re The Secret of Trumps Appeal Isnt Authoritarianism, by Matthew Schmitz (Opinion guest essay, nytimes.com, Dec. 18):

According to Mr. Schmitz, the key to understanding Donald Trumps electoral appeal is not his authoritarianism but his moderation. There may have been some truth to this eight years ago, when Mr. Trumps policy views were often poorly defined. However, it is clearly no longer true in 2023.

On a wide range of issues, including immigration, climate change, health care and gun control, Mr. Trump has endorsed policies supported by the right wing of the Republican Party. And when it comes to abortion, whatever his recent public statements, while he was in office, he consistently appointed anti-abortion judges committed to overturning Roe v. Wade.

As a result, Mr. Trump now appeals most strongly to the far right wing of the Republican Party. Donald Trump is no moderate.

Alan Abramowitz Atlanta The writer is professor emeritus of political science at Emory University.

To the Editor:

Matthew Schmitzs longwinded guest essay still misses the point: The bottom line of Donald Trumps appeal to his supporters is the permission to indulge their darkest impulses and harshest judgments of the other everyone in the world outside of MAGA Nation.

Rich Layton Portland, Ore.

To the Editor:

Matthew Schmitz could not be more wrong. There is no universe in which Donald Trump is a moderate. Moderates do not gut the system that they have sworn to uphold. Moderates do not consider calling in the military against American citizens, as Mr. Trump did during the Black Lives Matter demonstrations. Moderates do not start riots when they lose elections.

Trump voters are either fellow grifters or people who do not understand how government works and are taken in by his shtick: the incurious and the easily fooled. Its as simple and as dangerous as that. We have work to do to make sure he will not regain office.

Christine Potter Valley Cottage, N.Y.

To the Editor:

I was shocked to read a piece that wasnt the usual drone of lets count all the ways that Donald Trump is a disaster for the country. Im so grateful that you are actually inviting a broader variety of opinions. It is just as valuable to understand why Mr. Trump is loved as why he is hated.

I read the article twice, and it was compelling at times. Im still not a fan of Mr. Trump, but am grateful that finally your paper is respecting its readership to handle different perspectives.

T. Palser Calgary, Alberta

To the Editor:

Matthew Schmitz seems to think that he needs to explain to us that people are willing to overlook the clearly authoritarian tendencies of a candidate if they like some of his policies. Thanks, Mr. Schmitz, but were already well aware of this. Italians liked Mussolini because he made the trains run on time.

This is exactly our point. This is how dictatorships happen.

Robert Stillman Cohen New York

To the Editor:

When you have to argue that the secret to someones appeal isnt authoritarianism, the secret to their appeal is authoritarianism.

David D. Turner Clifton, N.J.

To the Editor:

The Biden administration is beginning to understand that while most Jewish Americans believe in Israels right to exist, this does not mean that American Jews overwhelmingly support the Israeli governments relentless killing of innocent Palestinian civilians at this point, more than 10,000 of them children.

Increasingly, as the traumatized Israeli pursuit of Hamas costs more death and destruction, cracks are appearing in Jewish community support for the Biden administrations military and political backing of the current Israeli government. President Biden is well advised to pay close attention to these cracks.

As the article points out, nearly three-quarters of Jews historically vote Democratic. Unless Mr. Biden takes a harder line against the continued killings and steps up more boldly for a cease-fire, Democrats could lose Jewish votes.

John Creger Berkeley, Calif.

To the Editor:

Re College Turmoil Reveals a New Politics of Power (news article, Dec. 15):

Having spent a lifetime working for and with nonprofits, I am disgusted by wealthy donors who expect money to buy a voice in university affairs. Donations are gifts, not transactions, and I have always objected to 1) listing names of donors, whether on buildings or in concert programs, and 2) tax deductions for charitable donations.

Yes, we will lose some ego-driven donors along the way, but we will eventually prevail by keeping it clean.

Michael Rooke-Ley San Francisco The writer is a former law professor.

To the Editor:

Re Soaring Rents Are Burdening Lower Incomes (front page, Dec. 12):

Congress should exempt the first $40,000 of income from the Social Security tax, which would immediately give lower-income families some relief.

The lost income to the government should not be seen as lost but as support to allow people to stay in their existing apartments.

This would also be the time to apply the Social Security tax to higher incomes that are currently exempt above $160,200. And to cap or reduce the excessive interest rate which currently averages 24 percent that many people pay on their credit card bills.

Read this article:
Opinion | 'Donald Trump Is No Moderate' - The New York Times