By Craig Martel | PoliticsAreLocal.com | September 2025
Donald Trump has never been shy about assigning blame. But his recent claim that “we should never forgive Biden for what he did to our country” marks a new escalation, a rhetorical shift from opposition to condemnation, from critique to crusade.
It’s a statement designed to provoke, polarize, and distract. But beneath the bluster lies a deeper strategy: grievance politics at scale. And if we don’t decode it, challenge it, and build alternatives, we risk becoming complicit in a narrative that erodes truth, trust, and civic resilience.
What Is Trump Talking About?
The short answer: it depends on the day.
Trump’s “never forgive” mantra has been tied to a rotating list of grievances, including:
• Autopen pardons: Trump claims Biden used a mechanical signature device to approve thousands of clemency orders without direct involvement, calling it “illegal” and “disrespectful to the rule of law.”
• Foreign policy: He accuses Biden of weakening NATO, allowing allies to “take advantage” of the U.S., and failing to project strength on the world stage.
• Immigration and border security: Trump blames Biden for what he calls “open
borders,” citing spikes in migration and fentanyl trafficking.
• Cultural shifts: He points to DEI programs, gender identity protections, and climate regulations as evidence of “radical leftist control.”
But these claims are often vague, emotionally charged, and strategically fluid. They’re less about specific policies and more about constructing a narrative of betrayal.
The Strategy Behind the Statement
Trump’s “never forgive” rhetoric isn’t just personal, it’s political. It serves several key functions:
1. Mobilizing the Base
By framing Biden’s presidency as unforgivable, Trump taps into a deep well of resentment among his supporters. It’s a call to arms, a moral imperative, and a loyalty test rolled into one.
2. Erasing Complexity
Nuance is the enemy of outrage. By reducing Biden’s entire presidency to a single unforgivable act, Trump simplifies the narrative and makes it easier to weaponize.
3. Deflecting Accountability
Every time Trump invokes Biden’s “damage,” he shifts attention away from his own record. It’s a classic deflection tactic: blame the other guy, and you never have to explain yourself.
4. Creating a Moral Binary
Forgiveness implies moral judgment. By declaring Biden’s actions unforgivable, Trump positions himself as the moral compass and paints his opponents as irredeemable.
The Consequences for Democracy
This kind of rhetoric isn’t just divisive, it’s corrosive. It undermines the foundations of democratic discourse and replaces debate with dogma.
1. Polarization Intensifies
When political disagreement becomes moral condemnation, compromise becomes impossible. Communities fracture. Families split. Governance stalls.
2. Truth Becomes Tribal
Facts lose their power when loyalty overrides logic. In Trump’s narrative, evidence is irrelevant. What matters is allegiance.
3. Civic Fatigue Sets In
Constant outrage wears people down. Voters disengage. Activists burn out. And authoritarianism thrives in the vacuum.
What This Means for Everyday Americans
Trump’s “never forgive” campaign isn’t just a slogan, it’s a signal. It tells Americans that:
• Disagreement is betrayal
• Complexity is weakness
• Empathy is expendable
And that has real consequences:
• Public discourse collapses: Town halls become shouting matches. School boards become battlegrounds. Social media becomes a war zone.
• Policy suffers: When governance is driven by grievance, evidence-based solutions get sidelined. Climate policy, healthcare reform, and economic strategy become collateral damage.
• Communities fracture: Neighbors become enemies. Local institutions lose trust. Civic engagement declines.
My Final Thoughts: Forgiveness Is a Civic Choice
Trump’s claim that we should “never forgive” Biden isn’t just a political jab, it’s a worldview. One that replaces dialogue with dogma, empathy with outrage, and democracy with division.
But here’s the truth grievance politics can’t erase:
Local voices still matter.
Civic platforms still have power.
And satire still stings.
So, let’s get loud. Let’s get smart. Let’s build the tools, tell the truth, and refuse to play dumb.
Because when forgiveness becomes forbidden, resistance becomes revolutionary.