Chris Van Hollen: “President Trump has routinely attacked basic American freedoms--of the press, of peaceful assembly, of religion, of…”

“President Trump has routinely attacked basic American freedoms--of the press, of peaceful assembly, of religion, of speech. When he lost the popular vote, President-elect Trump assailed the integrity of our electoral process and falsely claimed that millions of people voted illegally. When the press exposed those falsehoods, Mr. Trump dismissed credible reporting as ``fake news.'' When the courts ruled that his travel ban was unlawful, President Trump accused judges of abetting terrorists. These actions have consequences beyond our own borders and embolden dictators around the world. President Trump displays a worldview that favors the military over diplomacy and transactional relationships over strategic alliances. President Trump's uncritical embrace of autocrats like Russian President Putin, Egyptian President Sisi, Turkish President Erdogan, and Philippine President Duterte is a repudiation of every reformer and activist seeking freedom from tyranny. It is a repudiation of America's values and founding principles. President Trump's approach to the world is shortsighted and self- defeating. The greatest threats to U.S. national security come from countries that are corrupt, poorly governed, and fraught with poverty and disease. These countries require sustained engagement and assistance to prevent the kind of threats that could require American soldiers to go into war.…”