To the editor:

Former President Trump’s agenda for 2024 is becoming increasingly clear

Mr. Trump established a long time ago an absolute power to hire and fire (“The Apprentice”).

Our sitting president then went on late in his term of office and after Jan. 6 to argue an absolute immunity from prosecution (Impeachment trials, fraud trial, and criminal indictment filings).

Candidate Trump now argues a right to absolute freedom of speech (Gag order filings).

This picture suggests a man devoted to an absolutist system of government, otherwise known as dictatorship.

I used to wonder why so many line up behind this anti-democratic veer in American politics. No more. Absolute power is much more exciting than true republican or true democratic power. These men and women understand that a populist Trump reinserted into high public office will not live long and that one or another of them stand to take his place on the throne of authoritarian power.

Here is the final summation of candidate Trump’s ambition. On his deathbed, his majesty the first king of America will announce and appoint the most loyal servant of his exalted administration to be the heir apparent to the kingdom after he is gone.

Kimball Shinkoskey