One cannot help but feel for Americans like West Gardiner farmer Kevin Leavitt, who made life-altering decisions based if not on implied promises then indeed contracts, only to have them singlehandedly undone by President Trump. While Mr. Leavitt is pretty young, I’m guessing his ethos may still be the possibly dated notion that a person’s word is their bond, let alone “a contract is a contract.”

Unfortunately, our president has repeatedly demonstrated that a contract of his isn’t worth the Sharpie ink used to sign it.

Bankruptcy is a legal proceeding initiated when a person or business cannot repay outstanding debts or obligations. Some Trump-run companies that have sought that protection include: Trump Taj Mahal, 1991; Trump Plaza, 1992; Trump Casino Resorts, 2004; and Trump Entertainment Resorts, 2009.

Mr. Trump has used it to void, avoid and restructure paying from millions to hundreds of millions of dollars of his company’s legal, financial and contractual obligations. He has also fallen short on moral/charitable obligations. In 2019, Trump’s “charitable foundation” had been shuttered for improper use of funds and was ordered to pay damages of $250,000 to each of eight charities.

Clearly the man has no compunction about unilaterally breaking long-standing, financial, geopolitical or social contracts. For a deeper read into Trump, instead of the well-debunked “Art of the Deal,” I recommend folks read 2024’s “Lucky Loser.” Buckle up.

Mike Del Tergo
Falmouth