(Scroll down this column to read Pundit-at-Large Stephen Macaulay’s take on the hat.)

From a reader – I do not believe there is any chance that President Trump will try to run for a third term as the named candidate on the presidential ballot.

It would be too clearly unconstitutional and counterproductive … even for him. Most states, even “red” states, would refuse to place him on their ballots.

He and his administration/regime believe they will win. So, in their minds it isn’t necessary for them to try it. Furthermore, Trump will outright refuse to cede power to anyone except his MAGA candidate.

Our Democracy is in grave danger. But it won’t be from Trump attempting to place his name on the presidential ballot for a third term. –John Santoni

The Hat -- Let’s face it: Donald Trump hasn’t done a whole lot positive for the American people?

Remember DOGE, that outfit that fired employees of the National Nuclear Security Administration, only to have to rehire them because who wants a nuclear catastrophe?

Some will say the One Big Beautiful Bill Act provides manifold benefits — but then there are the people who have had Medicaid, SNAP benefits, and ACA subsidies cut. 

And then there’s the non-trivial issue of the $3.4 trillion that the Congressional Budget Office calculates the OBBBA will add to the national debt by 2034.

Yes, the administration has done a good job at the southern border. But its efforts have also resulted in 11 fatalities caused by federal immigration agents. And while Trump had claimed that the worst of the worst would be rounded up and deported, ABC News found “3% of individuals detained by ICE during the first 14 months of the second Trump administration had a violent felony conviction.”

During his victory speech on November 6, 2024, he said, “I’m not going to start a war, I’m going to stop wars.”

While he has variously claimed to have ended anywhere from six to 10 wars, there is the war that he started in Iran that is still going.

During his campaign he said that on Day 1 in office, “When I win, I will immediately bring prices down.”

How’s that going?

Isn’t he doffing a 2028 hat simply so people will divert attention from his meager accomplishments and his outright failures? (Bought a package of ground beef lately? It is 20% more expensive than it was when he took office. And I don’t need to talk about gas.)

Sure, let him wear his hat.

As he has managed to rip a hole in American’s pocketbooks — now and in the future. –Stephen Macaulay/Pundit-at-Large