Trump's RNC is constantly reminding Americans how he abuses his office

President Trump.
(Image credit: Illustrated | Getty Images, iStock)

The Republican National Convention on Tuesday offered plenty of reminders of how thoroughly President Trump has blurred his dual roles as the leader of the United States and the head of the Republican Party.

Trump surprised Jon Ponder, a reformed bank robber, with an Oprah-style on-camera pardon. A small group of immigrants were sworn as new citizens during a brief naturalization ceremony. His Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, gave a brief speech from Jerusalem — breaking with a long expectation that the nation's chief diplomat stays out of domestic politics. The speech by former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who decried Hunter Biden's involvement with a Ukrainian energy company, revived memories of Trump's attempts to bully that country's president into helping his presidential campaign.

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Joel Mathis, The Week US

Joel Mathis is a writer with 30 years of newspaper and online journalism experience. His work also regularly appears in National Geographic and The Kansas City Star. His awards include best online commentary at the Online News Association and (twice) at the City and Regional Magazine Association.