L.A. Times Politics is reporting that columnist George Skelton questioned whether today's political leaders, including President Donald J Trump, would genuinely sign the Declaration of Independence. Skelton's column explored if there would be enough patriots today to affix their signatures to such a rebellious document and sincerely mean its pledges.
The column suggested that President Trump's actions, such as allegedly 'defacing' the White House and other national landmarks, reflect 'egotism and tackiness.' It questioned whether contemporary leaders would truly commit to the Declaration's concluding pledge of 'our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor,' which the original signers understood as an act of treason.
Skelton wrote that while leaders might sign the preamble about 'all men are created equal' for its popularity, he noted the historical hypocrisy of its principal author, Thomas Jefferson, owning slaves. The column contended that President Trump and parts of America today do not uphold the principle of equal rights or due process for all, specifically mentioning undocumented immigrants. UC Berkeley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky, a constitutional scholar, noted the sincerity of the founders' final pledge, emphasizing their deep commitment.