In 2001, George W. Bush took office with 543,895 fewer votes than Al Gore.

In 2017, Trump took office

with 2,865,075 fewer votes than Hillary Clinton. In my lifetime 2 out of 4 presidents – both Republicans
– have taken office without winning the popular vote. How is this a virtue of American democracy?

Over the last 60 years, Republicans and Democrats have each held office for roughly the same duration
(Democrats for 28 years, Republicans for 32 years). Yet 16 of the 24 Supreme Court justices appointed
in that same time have been appointed by Republican presidents. In starker terms, Republican
presidents have appointed 16 of the last 20 Supreme Court justices. How is this a virtue of American
justice?

In this country, healthcare is not a right, it is something that must be earned. When you meet with your
doctor, somebody somewhere asks “Do you deserve this?”. How is this a virtue of American
compassion?

In this country, African American athletes with a public platform are told that kneeling in protest is a
disgrace to the nation. But armed militiamen intimidating local legislators are labeled patriotic. How is
this a virtue of our American values?

In this country, no small number of citizens believe that wearing a mask is a conspiratorial affront to
their God given freedoms – not responsible measures or minor sacrifices that must be made to combat
an ongoing pandemic. And our elected leader argues that forest fires could be better prevented by
raking national forests instead of acknowledging climate change. How is this a virtue of American
education, intellect, and ingenuity?

I ask you: How did we get here?

Everyone must draw a line in the sand to define what they morally and ethically stand for. I know you
would both profess to believe in love, compassion, fairness, and respect. I know this, and I truly believe
you when you say it. I undoubtedly share these same values.

However, in the last four years I have watched the President overstep these moral lines on what seems
to be a daily basis. These transgressions are so frequent that I have frankly become numb to their
impact and significance. As your grandson though, what truly pains me is when you both stand by the
President for it. In essence, I cannot help but see you both cross the very same lines, and it disheartens
me more than you can know.

Rest assured, I do not question our love for one another and look forward to seeing you both soon. I
certainly understand that we may not see eye-to-eye on all things but acknowledge that there is plenty
of room for disagreement, banter, love and laughter in the relationship that we share. Nevertheless, it
still saddens me that we have seemingly drifted so far apart on what I thought to be a set of shared
fundamental values.

Please help me see that we both still stand on the same side of that line in the sand.

Respectfully and with Love,