Can the hated Trump be correct about the ‘madness’ of electric vehicles — or any other policy?

There is no shortage of Democrats, liberals, academics, entertainers and members of the media who seemingly hate former President Donald Trump with every fiber of their being. And guess what? There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Such expression of hatred is not only protected under the Constitution, but is their right as human beings.

But when does such hatred morph into rejecting opinions or policies that may be good for the American people, or condoning polices which may be bad for the nation, simply because one wants to “stick it to Trump,” or not admit he can be correct about anything?

In the minds of those who hate him, has Trump ever been correct about any policy? Ever? After Trump worked for decades at the highest levels of business before entering the Oval Office, should any of his opinions on policy be entertained? Or at least, debated? Ever? 

For instance, last Monday, Trump put out two posts on Truth Social calling out the “Madness” regarding the Biden administration’s push for electric vehicles (EVs). Said the former president in the first post: 

“The Great State of Michigan will not have an auto industry anymore if Crooked Joe Biden’s crazed concept of ‘all Electric Cars’ goes into effect. CHINA WILL TAKE IT ALL, 100%. United Auto Workers, VOTE FOR TRUMP. Get your leaders to ENDORSE ME, I WILL KEEP ALL OF THESE GREAT JOBS, AND BRING IN MANY MORE. CHOICE IN SCHOOLS, AND CHOICE IN CARS!!!”

In the second post, Trump admonished Shawn Fain, the president of the United Auto Workers, for supporting Biden’s push for EVs: 

“Shawn Fain, the respected President of the United Auto Workers, cannot even think about allowing ALL ELECTRIC CARS — THEY WILL ALL BE MADE IN CHINA, and the Auto Industry in America will cease to exist! … Vote for TRUMP, and I will stop this Madness, IMMEDIATELY! Mexico & Canada LOVE Biden’s idiotic policy. SAVE MICHIGAN and the other Auto States. SAVE THE AMERICAN CONSUMER!!!”

Now, leaving aside Trump’s overt politicking, does he have a point regarding the subject of the rush to embrace electric vehicles? To be sure, a number of serious people do have doubts about the wisdom of that strategy.

There are concerns regarding the disposal of the vehicles’ massive batteries; the toxic waste within those batteries; China’s domination of rare earth metals and the construction of those batteries; future blackouts or loss of our electric grid; and the performance of the EVs themselves. 

During the last two hurricanes to hit Florida (Ian and Idalia), multiple EVs caught fire from the storm surge because of contact with saltwater. Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said after Ian, “We saw a number of fires associated with EVs from Hurricane Ian. We know that the saltwater from storm surge can compromise these batteries, causing fires which cannot be easily suppressed.”

In Florida, electric vehicle owners are now advised to park affected cars at least 50 feet away from any structures that could catch fire, after a home that managed to survive Ian ended up burning to the ground because of a saltwater-damaged Tesla. 

This is on top of dubious claims about mileage and how good they are for the environment compared to fossil fuel internal-combustion vehicles. 

Instead of the hated Trump, what if a highly respected progressive politician warned about the blind rush to embrace everything EV? Would that person be tuned out by the Trump haters? Doubtful. 

Since the day Trump rode down the escalator at Trump Tower in June of 2015 to announce he was running for president, a percentage of Democrats, members of the media, academia, Hollywood and the “Never Trump” Republican neocon class started to become mentally unhinged. Now, eight years into the “Age of Trump,” many have lost touch with reality — they will never admit to any truth Trump may speak, or any truth which they fear may benefit him. 

Worse than that, those out to get Trump at any cost have purposefully rejected reason and restraint while seemingly trampling the constitutionally protected right of free speech. Now no criminal charge against Trump — no matter how dubious — seems the least bit outlandish or even un-American to many liberals, the Democratic Party or much of the media.

Suddenly, it’s: “Indict Trump for making political statements or challenging the result of an election? Sure. Have Trump’s name removed from the ballot in certain states via a misinterpretation of the 14th Amendment? Why not. Can we also indict him for jaywalking or once tearing the tag off a mattress?”

To some, these actions have gone well beyond “cutting off your nose to spite your face.” These people are seemingly willing to hurt the American people as a way to punish a man who now lives rent free in their troubled minds.

Again, any and all are more than free to hate on Trump. That said, I can guarantee that should Trump become the Republican nominee against Biden (or any other Democrat) come 2024, he is going to repeatedly ask American voters the single most important question of the campaign: “Were you better off four years ago than you are now?”

Tens of millions of Americans do believe Trump is either correct about various policies or that he initiated winning policies. Will those voters be enough to overwhelm the Trump haters? We will soon find out.

Douglas MacKinnon, a political and communications consultant, was a writer in the White House for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, and former special assistant for policy and communications at the Pentagon during the last three years of the Bush administration.