Donald Trump is the greatest con artist in world history.

He has mastered the first principle of con artistry: appearances. He appearsto have what many believe make a good leader: indifference to criticism; callousness directed at his own advisers; banal nicknames for opponents. But bull-headedness is not leadership. It’s narcissism, and narcissists don’t care. About anything — war, peace, laws, shootings, poverty, abortion, anything.

Narcissists care only about themselves. But they appear to care. They’ll take any position that’s expedient and plow forward with boisterous claims or vehement denials, appearingto be strong.

When they build The Con Artists’ Hall of Fame, Trump will be the first one selected, with one possible exception: Ron DeSantis.

Wendell Abern, Sunrise

He’ll be back

It takes a determined advocate of untruth to accept the State of the Union address as anything other than a farce.

It is piteous to hear journalists and newscasters praising this nonsensical pageant posing as governance, as if it contained even a grain of truth. History will undoubtedly reward those who possessed the fortitude and good sense to heartily condemn it.

God bless Michael Flynn, Roger Stone and faithful defenders of freedom, as our former President, Donald Trump heads toward reestablishing his presidency and a second term.

Elizabeth Hinesley, Delray Beach

An October 2024 surprise?

The 2024 election is approaching. Trump’s voters aren’t deserting. He could pull an October surprise. If a criminal trial is pending, his doctor could say, “He’s not fit for trial.” An alternative to criminal prosecution is civil forfeiture. The basis of seizure of Mar-a-Lago could include contraband storage of classified secrets or dereliction of duty in taking anti-COVID measures.

Mar-a-Lago isn’t an innocent relic of a past Gilded Age. It’s the pinnacle of crony capitalism, a gnarly, extreme meme for corruption. Like a knot, it could be unwound to rebuke Trump’s values: money, power, quid pro quos, collusion, secrecy, and chronic lying.

Robert Cogan, Boynton Beach

Stop him in his tracks

I taught elementary school in New York State for 30 years. I’ve lived in South Florida for 27 years. Never in my life have I ever witnessed such an anti-democratic individual as Gov. Ron DeSantis.

He’s a disconnected so-called leader of democracy. From banning books, to decisions regarding sexual lifestyles, to eliminating parts of U.S. history, it’s an abomination. We must make sure that in the future, he’s stopped in his tracks in any area of government.

Arlene Goldsmith, Boynton Beach

Why Exodus matters

To understand what Israel is about and what the Jewish people had to do to establish the state of Israel, all Americans should see the movie Exodus (streaming on PBS). Especially for young people who don’t seem to know that history, they would understand how and why Israel must exist.

With the reemergence of antisemitism, it is crucial for young people to see what Jews had to do to survive after World War II. Before then, Jews had no country and no place to go to escape the Nazis. Now, with a strong state of Israel, they have their own country.

Sandy Shuster, Boynton Beach

Let’s talk about it

Guess what the Broward library system has 17 copies of? Let’s Talk About It — plus an e-book and e-audio book are available.

Moms for Liberty needs to change its name to Moms Against Libraries, because that’s who they are. As Thomas Jefferson said, no people can be both ignorant and free.

Joseph DeAngelis, Coconut Creek

Setting a poor example

It’s Black History Month but Florida’s racist governor has limited the teaching of it here. What a poor example he sets for our children.

Bob Mennealy, Lake Worth Beach