Sound Off: March 18, 2026

Sun Herald readers weigh in on local and national topics.

Where is NATO?

I have always been lead to believe that an attack on one NATO country was an attack on all NATO countries. Well ... have there not been missles shot at Turkey? And is Turkey not a member of NATO? So, what gives, rest of the world?

NATO

NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which was created so that if any member is attacked, NATO would have its back. President Trump is saying we don’t really need them. He is gambling with our lives.

No help

No help from our allies in the shipping lanes in the Strait of Hurmuz is an insult to the United States. Mr. President, please stop the support of Ukraine. Let the European community take charge and pay for Biden’s war.

It’s almost comical

President Trump spends months, if not years, insulting the rest of the world and, all of a sudden, nobody wants to help him? Gosh, who could have ever seen that coming?

What’s the word?

Next time you’re wondering how to describe our efforts in Iran, look up the definition of the word “boondoggle.”

Who started it?

We started the fight without giving our “allies” a warning or reason, but they should back us anyway? That’s not the way an alliance is supposed to work. The Obama-led strike on Libya was a UN-sanctioned operation. President Trump has acted alone, except with the help of Israel.

Defending reform

After reading the Sound Off section for many months, I find it hard to understand how some people seem to hate our President so much that they would rather see the country struggle than acknowledge when actions are taken for the good of the nation. For years, both current and past administrations have passed laws that often benefit those in power while ordinary citizens would face consequences for similar actions. It has also become increasingly clear that many in the legislature and the entrenched bureaucracy are enriching themselves at the expense of taxpayers who work hard and follow the rules. The current administration appears to be trying to address fraud, waste, and abuse, yet those efforts are frequently blocked by a politicized judiciary and self-interested legislators. Instead of constantly attacking attempts to rein in spending and restore accountability, Sound Off anti-Trump critics should recognize the importance of protecting the country’s financial future for the next generation and support this President and his administration in those efforts.

Trump speech

Trump took the stage at the Trump/Kennedy Center, flanked by loyal cronies, and turned it into a one-man variety show: part renovation pitch, part campaign rally, part foreign policy improv. Arts funding to Iran in under five minutes ... impressive range. Then came the low point: taking shots at Governor Gavin Newsom with playground insults, mocking his dyslexia, and rolling out “New-Scum.” That’s not leadership, that’s middle school with a microphone. Funny thing, history’s done just fine with people who had dyslexia: George Washington, Albert Einstein, Thomas Jefferson, and Winston Churchill come to mind. Apparently, the real deficit on display wasn’t a learning disability, it was dignity. And saying you’d never vote for someone with a learning disability? That says far more about you than it ever could about them.

So which is it?

Our mission (which changes daily) in Iran is “very complete, pretty much.” A total contradiction in four words and one more big fat lie from Donald Trump. When will the war end? When he “feels it in his bones.” Good to know.

Fighting fraud

President Trump and his administration deserve strong praise for taking bold, proactive action to stop the massive fraud that has been draining billions from programs meant to help vulnerable Americans. By appointing Vice President JD Vance to lead a national task force dedicated to identifying, stopping, and preventing benefits fraud, the administration is sending a clear message that taxpayer dollars will be protected and abuse will not be tolerated. This decisive laudable leadership strengthens oversight, restores integrity to public programs, and helps ensure that vital resources reach the people who truly need them. He should be commended for this initiative.

Selective outrage

Many of us don’t care about how much money we are spending on bombs or ICE, but maybe the cost of gas will get you outraged. Sad, but true.

War prep

Before hostilities began in the 1991 Gulf War, President George. H. Bush assembled a coalition of more than 30 nations and the support of the UN. None of that happened before this war with Iran. This war was started by two people, Netanyahu and Trump, without consultation with other countries or even the American people or their Congress. That’s a contrast of good leadership and bad leadership.

Send your Sound Offs to soundoff@sunherald.com.