Sound Off

Sound Off: April 17, 2026

By Sun Herald

April 17, 2026 3:00 AM

Where the landmark Great Southern Hotel once stood, a $105 million project is starting to rise and create a place for people to live, visit, work and play in the downtown. Courtesy of Gulfport Town Center

Sun Herald readers weigh in on local and national topics.

What about the rest?

How exciting that we are getting new developments in downtown Gulfport, but what about the rest of the city? I have long said that if the area is not in view of City Hall, it must not matter. Downtown looks great, but we still have to take our visitors through the run-down looking parts to get there. Why can our leaders not refocus some of the energy dedicated to downtown into the rest of our city?

Trump’s behavior

The relentless disparagement of Donald Trump has more to do with his atrocious actions and intentions rather than partisan hostility. His behavior does not elevate the country; it undermines it.

Got to go

Sec. Hegseth just gave yet another “FOX Entertainment Anchor” war briefing. His hand gestures, delivery, and facial expressions, while criticizing negative media war reporting were an embarrassing carnival sideshow. His trying to garner popularity by quoting scripture won’t wash. Hegseth gives no credibility or confidence to the Pentagon. Just let Gen. Caine and Admiral Cooper give their professional and polished detailed brief, no Hegseth bologna.

Always something

I truly believe that President Trump could cure cancer and the Democrats would find away to bemoan the effect it would have on Big Pharma.

Trump vs. Pope

President Trump is criticizing the Pope as “weak” and “terrible” because he is against war and sympathizes with immigrants. First, profanity, now this. When will his supporters see him for the vain, thin-skinned, narcissistic man that he is?

Swalwell

I’m beginning to wonder how long the Democrats covered for Eric Swalwell.

The new normal

The USA was once the universally acknowledged leader in the world, and profanity was not a regular part of political dialogue. Open sexual misconduct was an automatic exit from politics (remember Gary Hart?), personal profiteering from politics was forbidden, and memorializing one’s legacy was left to others after one left office. While not completely responsible for the moral descent of our current political life, President Trump has punched a ticket in each category on the way down to where we are today.

Send your Sound Offs to soundoff@sunherald.com.