Seattle teacher writes dramatic letter to students warning of 'evil and dangerous' Trump victory

In a letter that likely took on new significance in light of former President Donald Trump's assassination attempt, a Seattle professor addressed the dangers of a second Trump term.

In an op-ed for The News Tribune last week, Michael McSweeney wrote an emotional message to his former students as he asked for “forgiveness.” The 71-year-old retired professor gushed about the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity and lamented that the high court and Congress have failed to protect the nation from another Trump presidency.

“Dear children, I lied to you. Every single one of you. From 1974 to 2017. And now I feel terrible about it,” McSweeney wrote in the op-ed published on July 8, days before Trump was targeted by a would-be assassin at his rally in Butler, Pa.

“I was telling you what made the United States unique and special among all the other countries in the world. Class after class, year after year, grade after grade. I told you all that the United States of America would always be strong and safe because our country had a constitution with something so special, so unique, and so important,” he wrote, pointing to checks and balances and the three branches of government.

I taught my students that the Constitution would protect us. Now I realize it was a lie opinion https://t.co/hWhix2p3LP

— Tacoma News Tribune (@thenewstribune) July 8, 2024

“I always told you that no evil, dangerous person could be elected president because Congress and the Supreme Court would remove them from office before they could do much harm,” the former professor continued.

“I didn't lie to you on purpose, my dear older children. I loved you too much to do that. But now it's clear to me that I was lying to you and I ask for your forgiveness,” he added.

In an all-too-familiar rhetoric, McSweeney blasted the “evil and dangerous” Trump and the “scared and ignorant” members of Congress.

“I lied to you because I could never have imagined that someone as evil and dangerous as Trump could be elected president. I never dreamed that a Congress with so many fearful and ignorant members could be elected at the same time and come together to make whatever it takes to keep Trump in office,” he wrote.

“It never occurred to me how corrupt and clueless the Supreme Court could become, or how wrong their judgments would be in the age of Trump. I said these things couldn't happen, but I lie. And now I know I lied to you because, right here in front of you and in front of me, all these things are happening,” McSweeney added.

“Can you ever forgive me?” he asked.

Although the letter was released days before Trump's assassination attempt, many social media users reacted after the weekend's shocking events.

This letter is from a 71-year-old man. Their self-absorption and detachment from reality underscores why the left spends so much effort trapping people in a permanent state of immaturity.

— Phil Davies (@PhilDav12361062) July 15, 2024

Perfect example of the Vitriol they spewed for years, which they now say needs to be de-escalated.

— Mikes1921 (@Mikes1921) July 15, 2024

I would prefer that teachers not influence my children's political beliefs, especially when they can't seem to teach reading comprehension and math.

— TM1(SS) (@dickeyman1) July 15, 2024

@SeaPubSchools Not shocking

— Adam (@AdamMCorleone) July 15, 2024

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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida, where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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