Patriotism has never meant blind loyalty to one man. It means loyalty to the Constitution, to the law, and to the people. When the oath is to a person, that is not America. That is a cult.
The oath is the test
Every member of Congress, every soldier, and every public servant swears an oath to the Constitution. Not to Donald Trump. Not to any politician. The oath is the line between patriotism and personal loyalty.
Evidence of the difference
- Trump demanded “loyalty” from FBI Director James Comey. The oath is to the law, not to him.
- Military leaders refused illegal orders. Their oath was to the Constitution.
- Judges, including Trump’s own appointees, ruled against him when evidence required it.
National security is not a prop
Classified documents are not souvenirs. Read the DOJ indictment and the superseding filing in the Mar-a-Lago case.
Allies and adversaries
Patriots stand with allies and stand up to adversaries. See coverage of the Helsinki summit where Trump publicly sided with Putin over U.S. intelligence: PBS NewsHour.
Bottom line: Real patriots put the Constitution before any person. That is the oath.