Truth and trust matters when someone is asked for support in building a wall on our southern border. According to a non-partisan, independent group, President Trump has told over 7,000 lies since he took office. I don’t watch the ones he gives out on Twitter, but I bet I have seen him say about a thousand on the news. A few times he has told a different one on the same subject several days in a row. Without any trust how can I or any reasonable person support him?

His reason for shutting down the government is the flood of illegal immigrants crossing our southern border. He says it is worse than ever before but the Department of Homeland Security says crossings are the least in two years and the least in twenty years. He and his aides said 17,000 criminals were caught crossing the southern border. According to the Transportation Safety Administration of the 362,000 apprehended from all ports of entry (borders, airports, seaports, and coasts) only 6,259 had any criminal records. Almost all of those deported were re-crossers and those with traffic violations which TSA considers criminal. Less than 800 had a real criminal record for violence, sexual or domestic abuse, and firearms violations. Trump said 4,000 terrorists were caught crossing the southern border. The State Department says 6 at the southern border and 41 at the northern border.

The lack of trust isn’t only here but around the world. Our friends and foes don’t trust his word. A sad example is the European bookies bet on the number of lies he would tell in his television address. The line was 3.5 lies. When our NATO allies treat him as a joke according to some of the European news agencies, I can only infer their leaders do not trust him. We need that support for help and to deter our foes. Because of the lack of trust and conflicting statements, cabinet secretaries, generals, and others are firemen sent to quell nervousness and try to repair relationships. Unfortunately those the allies trusted have quit their jobs or been fired.

The trust of the President is critical to world peace and even its economy. The people and their leaders hear what a President says. The leaders may be consulted with calming words, the people aren’t. My mother said, “People who lie can’t be trusted” and my dad said, “A man’s word is his bond”. That is the characteristic we and the world wants to lead the United States and the free world.