The Patriot’s Report:

Trump makes China pay

Story: President Trump took action this morning to put a stop to China running all over the United States in trade. We annually lose billions of dollars to them in the exchange of goods, so this morning his administration slapped a tariff increase that will help even the playing field. (via President Trump on Twitter)

Patriot’s Pen: The president is correct that the Chinese have been eating the U.S.’s lunch on trade. We are paying massive tariffs on our imports from them. Any action to help protect U.S. manufacturers and farmers through tariffs should be beneficial for our economy, and it will hopefully cause the Chinese to come to the negotiating table in the future and rework some of the trade deals.

Comey runs his mouth about Trump indictment

Story: Former FBI director James Comey did a town hall with CNN on Thursday night and said President Trump could be indicted after he leaves office and could have already been indicted. (via the Washington Times)

Patriot’s Pen: Of all people, Comey should know about due process and allowing investigations to run their course before commenting on them. To be clear: The Patriot’s Pen has no idea whether Trump will be indicted during or after his presidency. Neither does James Comey. And he should not be going on a cable network discussing it.

The Patriot’s Reading:

Mike Pence: Remove Ilhan Omar from Foreign Affairs Committee (via Washington Examiner)

Adam Schiff wants to fine Trump officials $25,000 a day (via Townhall)

Matthew Stafford’s wife has a powerful brain surgery story (via Right Field Sports)

David Limbaugh: Sen. Burr is doing the bidding of Democrats (via Townhall)

The Patriot’s Window:

Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas explains why a bill that’s supposed to help individuals with pre-existing conditions is not actually going to help people with pre-existing conditions..

The Patriot’s Commentary:

The level of hatred toward President Trump is disturbing. There are many issues on which the Patriot’s Pen disagrees with the president. In our nation, we are blessed with a system that affords the ability of pushback and response from one side to another.

But recently, it has gotten out of hand.

During the Obama administration, members of conservative media pushed back intensely against actions being taken that were destructive to the nation, but there was never the level of vitriolic hatred that we see from the Democrats and even some Republicans toward President Trump and his family.

It has become personal for them.

Perhaps it’s the fact that he wasn’t a member of the political class when he was elected.

Perhaps they resent and envy the connection he has with those who support him.

Perhaps they just strongly dislike his personality and the way he conducts himself.

In any event, he is the president of the United States. If they have a complaint, they should make it about policy and matters of running the government. If there are established grounds to impeach him, then impeach him.

But the ongoing personal, hate-filled attacks directed at him and his family that have nothing to do with his elected position are beyond the pale.