Dear Editor,
Every year on July 4th, we celebrate America’s independence, not just from Great Britain, but from kings. “No Kings Day” isn’t a joke or an exaggeration; it’s a reminder of the principle this country was founded on: that no one is above the law. Our Revolution was a rejection of monarchy: of one man’s claim to divine authority, unchecked power, and the ability to do whatever he pleased without accountability.
So when people refer to Donald Trump as acting like a “king,” it’s not because they think he’s wearing a crown. It’s because he exhibits the very traits our founders fought to overthrow.
A king does not accept limits on his power. A king believes the law exists to serve him, not to restrain him. A king demands loyalty to himself, not to the nation. A king treats government as personal property, punishes those who defy him, and expects blind devotion from his subjects.
Sound familiar?
Trump has claimed he can do “whatever he wants” as president. He’s attacked judges, prosecutors, and even his own allies for daring to question him. He’s said he deserves “immunity” for his actions. And his followers, some proudly waving flags that replace the stars and stripes with his name, cheer him on. That’s not patriotism. That’s fealty.
To pretend not to understand what people mean by “No Kings Day” is not confusion. It’s choosing not to see that the same behavior we once rebelled against is being resurrected right here, in the open.
America doesn’t have kings. That was the whole point. And if we forget that, we risk losing the very freedom we claim to celebrate.
Ace Jones, Greensboro