Trump redefines loyalty in unproductive ways

Our 45th president has proven to be very different from his predecessors. Some of the differences are explained by changes in technology, for example, his use of Twitter to communicate with his base (and commentators and writers in the so-called “fake” news who must read and respond to his twitters or be totally out-of-the loop). Some differences are due to his management style, as with his “I know one when I see one” approach to selecting people or his apparent unconcern with the resulting unprecedented turnover in those he selected. Another example of differences from his predecessors would be his willingness to tolerate, even encourage, disagreement and competition for his attention among his staff , leading to constant conflict and dissension.

We’ve all watched these and other different approaches to “previously tried and proven” ways of conducting the biggest job in the world — and the most important one to citizens of the United States. Depending on your background and experience and your political persuasion, your reaction is “this too shall pass” or “he’s doing a good job of shaking things up in Washington.”

But, regardless of whether you are a Trump supporter, his interpretation of loyalty has caused all but his true believers to shake their heads. For those of us who are more traditional, loyalty, when used to refer to a relationship between a supervisor and employees, means the employees believe in their bosses and thus support them, often through trying times. In return, their bosses looks out for their welfare. For us, loyalty is something earned — not something expected.

All this has changed with Trump, a president who (a) demands loyalty from those who work for him — defined by him to mean unquestioned agreement, regardless of what he says or asks them to do; (b) expects those in his administration to place loyalty to him over loyalty to their country or their oath of office; and (c) demands loyalty but shows no loyalty for those who work for him.

His attempt to redefine loyalty and to make it the primary factor in selecting and retaining his staff is not working for him, his staff or the country. JIM HAMMONS Fayetteville