A leader should solve, not create, problems

facing America: 1. Climate change. Trump’s action? Taking the United States out of the Paris accord, reversing every major initiative at the Environmental Protection Agency, and filling his administration with climate-change deniers.

2. The undermining of our democracy through voter suppression, gerrymandering and interference in our elections by foreign governments.

What’s Trump’s response to this? Alleging, with zero evidence, that 3 million to 5 million fraudulent votes were cast in the 2016 election, and then setting up a commission to find evidence of this in order to justify more voter suppression by states seeking to minimize minority votes.

3. The proliferation of nuclear warheads and missiles around the world, and most recently the danger posed by North Korea.

What is Trump doing? Trying to get America out of its nuclear deal with Iran. And rather than engage North Korea or pressure China to do something about Kim Jong Un, Trump and his administration are issuing provocative statements.

4. Widening inequality and a growing population of poor in America.

Trump’s response? Proposing a tax plan that will make the rich even richer. And submitting to Congress a budget that cuts low-income housing, job training, food assistance, legal services, help to distressed rural communities, nutrition for new mothers and their infants, funds to keep poor families warm, even Meals on Wheels. 5. Racism, hatefulness and divisiveness. What is Trump doing about this? Fueling even more of it by equating white supremacists with those who oppose racism, by militarizing the police, and by legitimizing discrimination against Muslims, Latinos, gays, transgender Americans and African-Americans.

Wherever you look, Trump finds problems that don’t exist and simultaneously neglects or worsens every major problem facing America.

Trump and his administration have been at it for less than eight months. We will be paying the price for years to come.