A Letter I Would Like to Send to Senator Thune

By Mike Koetting September 23, 2026

Like many Americans, I am frustrated at the unwillingness of the Republican Congress to rein in Donald Trump. I think his actions have gone well beyond matters of normal policy differences.

I want Republicans to actually provide a rationale for their inaction. I submitted a proposed op-ed to several newspapers in the form of a letter to Senator Thune asking him how they could ignore what was happening.

None printed it. My questions, however, remain unanswered. So, imagining there is any way I could get through to John Thune, I ask again.

The Honorable John Thune:

I suspect you and I disagree on a great many issues. Fair enough. The issues society faces are complex and there are a range of plausible solutions. Choices on any of them may reflect broader philosophical inclinations. Which is fine. The respectful clash of ideas produces a stronger democracy.

However, I assume, indeed, the assumption of democracy is that you are a man of good will, genuinely care about the welfare of all the American people and respect the rule of law. In that spirit, I would really like to hear your human explanation for why Congress is not doing more to rein in President Trump. Not the usual political rationalizations, but what you are really thinking and feeling.

I find it hard to believe you really think it’s a good idea to pursue a war with Iran. I don’t know all the circumstances, but as near as I can see, it was started without Congressional consultation, ignored readily available information that suggested that it would turn as it has, seems unlikely to achieve any of its objectives, is harming our ability to carry out other military objectives, and is damaging the American economy.

Do you and your colleagues really believe that “global warming” is a hoax? I recognize there are a range of possible responses to environmental issues, but under what circumstances does it really make sense to actively oppose alternative energy solutions? I don’t believe you are oblivious to the problems. And I find it hard to accept that you think if we ignore these issues, they will go away.

I am surprised at the willingness to confirm as Attorney General the President’s personal lawyer who has made it clear he is willing to use the DOJ as the President’s agency of both vengeance and self-aggrandizement. Under what interpretation is this consistent with the rule of law that has served the country so well for the last 250 years?

The President’s brazen campaign of self-enrichment for him and his families is remarkable. Why do the standards to which all other presidents have been held no longer apply? In the face of this, why is Congress willing to give him and his family less IRS oversight than average Americans?

Does a Congressional majority believe that vaccinations are more dangerous than the diseases they prevent? How does Congress feel about reductions in food inspections and protections? Don’t the ongoing cuts of scientific research create worries for the future? Does the majority really believe this makes the nation stronger?

Immigration is a difficult issue. But do you and your colleagues believe the current approaches to dealing with this issue reflect the best instincts of America, let alone the economic consequences, the weakening of traditional safeguards and undercutting standards of humane treatment?

While there are no laws about Presidential decorum, how is the country served by having a President who is seemingly unbound by any notion of what leaders of a democracy should do to unite a country and is willing to enter all manner of divisive speech and behavior? How can this possibly be good for the country?

I know the politics of the situation make it hard for any one of you to get out too far on this. But you have a collective responsibility to look out for the entire country, not just members of your party. Isn’t your job as a leader to fight for that?

I don’t believe it is possible to argue with a straight face that the actions of Donald Trump on balance reflect the best interests of the American people. Could you honestly tell me otherwise? And, if not, how are the rest of us supposed to interpret the inaction of Congress?

As much as it may seem otherwise, these questions are not meant as political “gotcha” questions. They are certainly not because “I hate America.” And they don’t suggest anyone should adopt my political persuasions or vote for any candidate. These questions simply reflect my deeply held impression that what is happening now is such a break with fundamental principles and poses such threats to what has made the country special that I honestly cannot understand why it is being tolerated.

Fifty years ago, a group of Republican Congressmen went to Richard Nixon and told him that if he didn’t resign, he would get impeached. They recognized that democracy requires a mutually accepted set of operating rules and Nixon violated them. It is not inevitable that party loyalty would trump constitutional principles. It is a choice. Why Republicans in Congress are unwilling to stand up for the underlying principles of American democracy in the same way is something you and your colleagues need to answer.