I am writing to express my appreciation for California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s efforts to expose the lies and unprofessional behavior President Donald Trump exhibits in his social media postings. In a political environment where the opposition party and the mainstream media are not doing enough to relate this to the public, Newsom is doing a great service to the nation.

By highlighting the incoherence of much of what Trump says in his online postings, Newsom isn’t just criticizing Trump for the sake of political gain but showing us how the president of the United States spreads disinformation and distorts reality through his tweets, many of them written in the wee hours of the morning using capital letters to impress his views on us.

Newsom’s willingness to directly challenge Trump’s rhetoric provides much-needed perspective for voters seeking truth in an era of political polarization. I hope that more public figures, and not just those in government, follow Newsom’s lead. It is crucial that in this distressing time in our civic life, we have leaders who aren’t afraid to speak out against lies and falsehoods, especially when they come from the highest office in the land.

Wendy Ross
Wiscasset