Un-presidential threats

Regarding “Trump plays the shutdown card” (Page A1, Monday), many who rely heavily on the government for certain services view such threats with alarm. Although the electorate is always assured it is not likely any shutdown would involve a curtailment of such stipends as the monthly Social Security checks, the specter still looms of an uncertain period when any or all needed and expected services might be delayed or withheld.

Surely the president has given little if any thought as to how such a ploy could play heavily into the outcome of upcoming midterm elections and perhaps even to the more distant next presidential election.

Ted Shaw, Cypress