The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.

The contrast between Republican presidents Lincoln and Trump is glaring: Lincoln, who preserved the nation, and Trump, who tries to cast it asunder every day. Lincoln’s second Inaugural Address was insightful: “Slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war. …Both (North and South) read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. … The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes.” 

Nobel laureate Bob Dylan channeled Lincoln in his ballad “With God on Our Side.” Something Trump doesn’t understand. Trump’s Iran War has been immersed in unchristian idolatry. The Washington Post reported: “Trump claims to have God on his side in war against Iran.” He invoked God as he threatened genocide against Iran: “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.” Similarly, Defense Secretary Hegseth talks of showing “no mercy … in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ.” Reminiscent of Nazism. 

Trump’s threat was too much for Wisconsin GOP Senator Ron Johnson, who warned that Trump’s rhetoric could lead to the “end times.” Johnson said he was opposed to “blowing up civilian infrastructure.” But his momentary dissent gave way to fully backing Trump, opposing public congressional hearings on the Iran War and calling for regime change: “We’ve kicked up a hornet’s nest here, and now we need to finish the job.” An unserious senator who has learned nothing from America’s debacles in Afghanistan, Iraq and Vietnam.

Wisconsin Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin denounced Trump: “This would be a war crime, plain and simple, killing innocent people is not only cruel and immoral, but it’s just not what Wisconsinites want. President Trump needs to end his war of choice. Now.” and “Diplomacy has always been the answer. … (The Iran War) has been reckless, cost U.S. soldiers their lives, and is raising prices on families. A ceasefire is a start, but Congress needs to do our jobs and end this war.” A serious senator.

Trump wants to add to the $39 trillion U.S. national debt by calling for billions of dollars for the war, $1.5 trillion more for defense – a whopping 40 percent budget increase – and cutting $73 billion in domestic spending, including healthcare. Trump said: “ It’s not possible for us to take care of daycare, Medicaid, Medicare, all of these individual things, they can do it on a state basis. … We have to take care of one thing: military protection.” Moreover, Trump refuses to propose raising taxes to pay for the Iran War and his increase in the budget for military spending.

Contrast with Lincoln. In 1862, “Lincoln signed into law a revenue-raising measure to help pay for Civil War expenses. The measure created a Commissioner of Internal Revenue and the nation’s first income tax” (IRS). It was a progressive tax with the wealthy paying more.

Lincoln was a great president. Trump is the worst.

Kaplan wrote a guest column from Washington, D.C., for the Wisconsin State Journal from 1995 – 2009.