Trump decoded
U.S. President Donald Trump is proving to be a ‘mad cop’, but he thinks himself to be a super cop of the world. His stance is way short of what a statesman should be and there are times when it is hard to believe that he is the President of the United States of America.
Govardhana Myneedu,
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
What U.S. President Donald Trump is doing is nothing but eccentric. He is perhaps flustered with the way the Ukraine war is progressing and upset that India has not reacted very greatly to his stream of statements about ending the conflict with Pakistan.
He is now threatening a host of other nations and wants to snatch Greenland. It is known to the world that he cannot take the upper hand in Russia’s oil trading which is why he is intervening in Venezuela. Mr. Trump expects no resistance but he should never be allowed to be a big brother to the world. It is time leading nations unite to assure the world that there can be peace and global harmony.
Rajakumar Arulanandham,
Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu
Mr. Trump’s remarks on annexing Greenland and his claim that the U.S. would run Venezuela’s oil business after the capture of Nicolás Maduro point to a troubling convergence of security rhetoric and resource politics. Greenland, an autonomous territory of a NATO ally, and Venezuela, a sovereign nation, are reduced to strategic assets in the name of blocking China or Russia. Such assertions undermine international law, erode respect for sovereignty, and strain alliances. Strategic competition cannot justify coercive approaches that risk global instability. Diplomacy and multilateral engagement remain the only credible safeguards.
Gopalaswamy J.,
Chennai
Iran protests
While the U.S. draws the line between the Iranian regime and the ‘brave people of Iran’, the Iranian government makes a distinction between ‘peaceful protesters’ and ‘armed rioters’.
Fuelling internecine strife inside a country is an old trick that the U.S. is now trying in Iran to have its way — usually to effect regime change. In the first place, the U.S. imposed sanctions and exacerbated economic hardships that have driven people to hold the anti-government protests. One of the main grievances of the protesters against the government is financial distress.
The U.S. should first lift the long-standing sanctions and contribute to an improvement in the state of the economy if it really cares for the people of Iran. Change must happen with people’s participation and not by an external power, however powerful it may be. In any case, it is imperative to avert a costly war.
G. David Milton,
Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu
The open display of the Shah-era flag marks a definitive turning point for the Ayatollah’s regime. Facing a “meltdown” on two fronts, Tehran is besieged by internal civil unrest and an external “locked and loaded” U.S.-Israeli alliance. For Israel, this is a golden opportunity to eliminate a nemesis that patronises Hezbollah and the Houthis. Economically, the rial is no longer worth the paper it is printed on, shifting the protests from currency concerns to outright regime change. Following the “Venezuela model”, the Trump administration appears poised to secure Iranian oil next.
R. Thomas Paul,
Bengaluru
ED in West Bengal
The Enforcement Directorate raids in West Bengal have led to a political stand-off between the Centre and the Trinamool Congress. The ED’s ‘crackdown’, which is seen only in Opposition-ruled States, and at the time of elections, raises doubts about its integrity. Democracy will be protected only when government departments function independently with the country’s welfare in mind.
Kshirasagara Balaji Rao,
Hyderabad
A piece of the peace Nobel
The shenanigans around the Nobel Peace prize are comical. A leader and the winner want a piece of the coveted peace prize to mark their places in history. Ironically, ‘peace’ in this melee remains elusive.
Subash Balakrishnan,
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Published – January 12, 2026 12:24 am IST
