letters@thedailystar.net

The anonymous antiTrump official isn't a hero

The world was taken aback by an anonymous oped penned by "a senior official" in the American administration published in The New York Times that describes how a bunch of administration officials, including the author him or herself, are actively working to derail President Donald Trump's divisive agendas.

This is quite a unique precedent.

However, it's also dangerous. No matter how unstable the president seems to be, he's the highest executive official of the country who has been elected directly by voters. The rogue officials inside the White House, on the other hand, were not.

If they genuinely believe that the president is unfit to lead, they should resign and denounce him openly, and even challenge him electorally. In trying to counteract his divisive agendas and dangerous impulses from within, they are in effect empowering conspiracy theorists who blame the "deep state’ for all mishaps and misdeeds of the administration. The belief that unelected officials are actively disrupting an elected president will result in more division in society and mistrust towards democratic systems and institutions. Naima Sadique, New York, USA