[The Editors' Verdict] The Position Never Changes the Person

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Il-gwon] "God will change Donald Trump."

In the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Marsha Coats, the only female member of the Republican Indiana State Committee, said this at a gathering with her family, including her husband. Her husband was Dan Coats, then a U.S. Senator from Indiana. He later served as the first Director of National Intelligence (DNI) under the Trump administration, a powerful position overseeing 17 major intelligence agencies including the FBI and CIA. Although he was close to Mike Pence, former Indiana governor and vice presidential candidate, support for Trump within the Republican Party was lukewarm at the time, and many hesitated to back him.

Marsha Coats herself had a negative image of Trump, thinking him womanizing and a playboy. However, she believed that if he were elected president, his thoughts and actions would change and he would become humble. As a deeply rooted evangelical Christian, she was convinced that if guided on the right path, he would turn toward God. She also urged her husband to support Trump as the Republican presidential candidate, saying, "The presidency and the White House will change Trump."

Four years have passed. Watching Trump’s tumultuous term, does Marsha still hold that belief? She would probably have to say, "Even God could not change President Trump."

Personally, Marsha had to witness her husband Dan Coats resigning as DNI due to conflicts with President Trump. Ultimately, however, neither the White House nor the presidency changed Trump. His diplomacy, which intimidated allies and maintained close ties with adversaries, increased global resentment toward the U.S., and his domestic policies defending his support base divided American society. He appointed his unproven daughter and son-in-law as aides and turned the White House into a family business by holding official events at family-owned resorts.

The Trump administration proved that even in the U.S., often seen as a symbol of democracy, national governance depends not on systems but on the leader. It made clear that peaceful transfers of power were possible not because of the system but because losers gracefully accepted election results. Even ten days after the election results were announced, the helpless situation of only being able to watch Trump’s statements exposes the dysfunctional nature of American politics.

This reality in the U.S. is shaking fundamental faith in liberal democracy. Although elections are supposed to reflect the will of the people, current events are leaving voters disillusioned. Disappointment in democracy has also appeared in recent surveys. The Democracy Futures Center at the University of Cambridge in the UK pointed out that dissatisfaction with democracy in developed countries has increased since the 2008 financial crisis. Especially in English-speaking democracies, dissatisfaction has surged sharply. Comparing dissatisfaction levels since 1995, this year’s dissatisfaction in the U.S. has risen by more than 30 percentage points over 25 years, with Australia and the UK also increasing by nearly 20 percentage points.

The Dan Coats couple appears to have clearly turned their backs on President Trump in this election. According to local media such as The New York Times (NYT), former DNI Director Dan Coats did not officially express support for any candidate in this election. While he reluctantly supported Trump in the last election, this time he remained silent. Marsha Coats also made no comment. Trump’s four years left the lesson that no matter how excellent the governing system is, it ultimately depends on the leader’s will.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.