Make America Great Again? Uh…

Yes, well, all right: let’s not jump to conclusions.

Suspicious packages have been sent to a series of people with whom Donald Trump has tussled in recent years, but it is impossible to state without any doubt that the president’s words and tone have a direct link with the recently attempted criminal acts.

That’s the downside.

Now, allow us to point out that Trump is neither innocent nor harmless. To not talk about him, in these circumstances, is to bury one’s head in the sand. The Republican politician has played a central role in the current blaze of intolerance on American soil.

He feeds anger. He doesn’t hesitate to encourage violence. For him, both seem legitimate in American politics.

He has even encouraged his supporters to “knock the crap out of” potential opponents, promising that he will cover their legal fees if they are prosecuted.

What do those who defend him tooth and nail say?

That American society is polarized…

That many supporters, Democrats as well as Republicans, have become radicalized…

That some media outlets pour their bile on Trump…

That Democratic politicians are also aggressive, like Hillary Clinton, who recently suggested that “You cannot be civil with a political party that wants to destroy what you stand for, what you care about.”

All that is true, of course. Trump is not the only one responsible for this situation. And the Democrats are not the only victims. There was a shooting in Virginia in June 2017, and it was Republican politicians who were targeted.

Nevertheless, Trump is the driving force behind this alarming trend. If American policy is a train, it’s derailing…. and the president is the locomotive.

Because he is, out of all the Republican and Democratic heavyweights, by far the most bellicose. And because he is the president, he enjoys unparalleled prestige, power and influence compared to other U.S. politicians.

An American president, by the way, generally has strong moral authority. However, contrary to many of his predecessors, Trump is convinced that to rule, he must divide. And not just a little. His rivals are not just rivals. They are traitors, even enemies of the people. And he would prefer to see them in prison instead of in politics.

Unfortunately, even though Trump’s responsibility for the outbreak of intolerance is undeniable, he is incapable of admitting it. Incapable of seeing himself in a mirror. Incapable of taking the necessary time for introspection.

So, what does he do? He blames others.

Yesterday morning, at dawn, he accused the media of being in “very big part” responsible for the “anger” in American society. He denounced the “purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media.” He stressed, “It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description.”

In sum, he threw oil on the fire! This surpasses understanding. Maybe he’s doing this to mobilize his base on the eve of the midterm elections, but that is no excuse.

Of course, the day before, he condemned “any acts or threats of political violence.” This public announcement was, however, as forced as it was artificial.

Trump promised to “make America great again.” So far, he has done the opposite. He radicalizes and debases his country.