U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar hosts town hall meeting

 

Trump, the war in Iran, inflation discussed

By SUE SUCHYTA

Sunday Times Newspapers

MELVINDALE – U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-13th District) spoke and fielded questions at a town hall meeting April 12 at Kessey Field House in Melvindale, covering topics that included President Donald Trump, the war in Iran and rising gas prices.

Thanedar said times are tough, with the war in Iran, Immigration and Customs Enforcement “atrocities and killings in U.S. streets,” and rising costs.

“Last week was Easter, and the president sent out an insane Truth posting telling Iran to open the f—king Strait, and then on Tuesday he said he would wipe out Iran’s entire civilization,” he said. “So, these are ramblings. This is not what someone who has a plan or who is in control does.”

Thandar said that despite the announcement of a two-week cease-fire, gas prices have “skyrocketed,” Iran seems to be in a stronger position and the United States seems to be in a weaker position than before the war started, which he characterized as “a complete disaster.”

“If you remember, last year Donald Trump ordered an unauthorized strike on Iranian facilities and he told the American people that Iran’s nuclear facilities were ‘completely and totally obliterated,’” he said. “But then he started the war this year in order to ‘deny Iran the ability to have a nuclear weapon,’ directly contradicting himself.”

Thanedar said “it is clear” that Trump had no plan from the beginning, did not have a plan to secure the Strait of Hormuz, didn’t coordinate with U.S. allies and didn’t have a global response.

“Now Iran controls the Strait and is demanding that tankers pay a toll to use it, which is a violation of international law,” he said. “As a result of Trump’s illogical actions, we are in a weaker position now than ever before this war, and Iran is stronger.”

Thanedar said President Barack Obama was able to stop a nuclear Iran with diplomacy, and that is what he thinks should be done now, and is upset with the $500 million to $2 billion daily cost of the war, money which he said should instead be going toward Medicare for All, public housing and daycare.

“All this tells me that Donald Trump is clearly not fit to lead,” he said. “That is why I wrote a letter this week to J.D. Vance and the entire executive cabinet asking them to invoke the 25th Amendment, which would declare Trump unfit to serve and remove him from office immediately.”

Thanedar said Trump has called the affordability crisis a hoax, has said that there is no federal money for health care or food assistance, and has seemed indifferent to rising gas prices.

“He has proven time and time again that his priorities are not the American people, but himself and his big money donors,” he said. “Democrats are fighting for you and to end this madness.”

He said Democrats have been urging Republicans to join them to vote on a war powers resolution demanding that Trump end the war.

Thanedar said they managed to pass legislation mandating the release of the Epstein files and forcing a vote on Affordable Care Act tax credits.

He said he was the first to introduce articles of impeachment against Trump and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, despite being discouraged from doing so, because he thought they should be held accountable for their crimes.

“Well, it’s what the people are asking for, and it’s the right thing to do,” he said. “It’s never the wrong time to do the right thing.”

Thanedar said the impeachment efforts against former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas Kristi Noem led to their removal.

He said as the ranking member of Oversights, Investigations and Accountability on the Homeland Security Committee, he is going to fight to hold the heads of ICE and U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection accountable and liable for terrorizing cities and for the deaths of citizens like Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

“We’re going to keep fighting for Medicare for All, taxing the wealthy, protecting voting rights, lowering costs, housing, and holding this entire administration accountable,” he said.