Opinion: Under President Trump, America is unapologetically great

At the conclusion of President Donald Trump’s Phoenix rally, a man came up to me and asked, “Can an 80-year-old man cry?”

He went on to express what so many Americans feel about this president: President Trump gets America. He understands that we love this country. That America has lifted more people in the history of the world out of poverty, and into prosperity.

President Trump appreciates that American individuality and freedom have allowed more people the opportunity to fulfill their potential than in any country in history.

His optimism and positive outlook on who we are as a nation and as a people is the counterweight to the negative message the left has spewed for the last 25 years.

There will be no apology from the president or his supporters for our past, present or our future.

Never-Trumpers and the left can’t figure out why someone they believe is boorish remains so popular, and is accomplishing so much, in spite of their best efforts to derail President Trump and his allies.

Never-Trumpers were content to have another milquetoast Republican candidate who would maintain the status quo. Their disdain of President Trump’s style, and how they perceive his character, overrides what has been our historic understanding of America. They are sanguine to allow a uni-party structure govern in Washington, D.C. They would allow us to turn left with the Democrats, provided our turn was a little slower; just so long as there is very little conflict or personal animus. For them, it isn’t about good policy, or aligning our legislation with our values, as much as it is about avoiding personal animus in a stiff, Victorian sort of way.

The left, on the other hand, simply has a different view of what America has been: evil; what it is: evil; and what it ought to be: a socialist utopia. They project their disapprobation of America onto President Trump. Their lens is a mix of Marxian dogma with a large portion of critical race theory. The left-wing media and academic elites who are proselytizing their modern religion are a mound of inconsistencies starting with the trope of tolerance. Until someone disagrees with them. Then it’s OK to be intolerant.

When the left lashes out, such as Congresswoman Maxine Waters’ urging of extreme actions against Trump supporters, they expose the authoritarian traits that are inherent in every form of socialism. That includes the soft, slow-moving curve that some Never-Trumpers are content with, and the revolutionary-minded brand that the entire Democrat presidential field, starting with Bernie Sanders, holds dear.

President Trump’s brutally frank, tough talk startles and offends Never-Trumpers. His love of America, its people, our freedom, our history and our economic system, together with an express understanding of our divine inheritance and obligation, is anathema to the left.

Americans want a president who loves America, not one who prefers a Soviet or Venezuelan-styled socialist mess.

We want a president who puts the nation and its people first, and who is unafraid to walk into any meeting in the world and negotiate from strength. No more apology tours.

If you are afraid or offended by tough talk by a president who believes it is his job to help all Americans have the opportunity to fulfill the measure of their creation, then look around at the renewed confidence of your fellow Americans and relax. The vast number of Americans are pleased with the direction their lives and the country are going. Look for the good and be happy for your neighbors.

After all, even the rest of the world understands that America is back. It’s great again. So great that even my 80-year old friend is moved to tears of joy.

Andy Biggs is an Arizona Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives. He wrote this op-ed exclusively for KTAR.com.