I resigned, leaving behind my nearly thirty-year career in the U.S. Foreign Service, so I could speak out publicly about the harm to American interests from the Trump administration.

President Trump was pressuring the victim, Ukraine, rather than the aggressor, Russia. We were appeasing a dictator, Vladimir Putin, rather than standing with our democratic partner.

I could not, and would not, stay silent.

I believe, as I wrote last May, the only way to secure U.S. interests is to stand up for democracy and stand against autocrats. Appeasing dictators only leads to more war and suffering – and that is not who we are.

One year later, Russia’s war in Ukraine goes on. Trump has broken his promise to end the war on day one. Instead, he has stopped military assistance to Ukraine, lifted sanctions on Russia, and rolled out the red carpet for Putin. At the same time, 2025 was the deadliest year for Ukrainian civilians since the start of the war.

But what disturbs me the most about the last year is that the foreboding signs I saw from the Trump administration’s approach to Ukraine also extend to our most pressing issues here at home.

I spent my entire career working in young democracies that emerged after the fall of the Iron Curtain of communism. I know the warning signs of an assault on democracy – and we’ve seen them right here in America. They include:

Weaponizing our justice system against perceived political opponents, including elected leaders like Senator Slotkin, journalists, businesses, and universities.

Militarizing our federal agents against our own citizens, including deadly violence in Minneapolis that killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and a cover up of the truth.

Abusing presidential power to amass a personal fortune, such as accepting “gifts” of a $400 million plane from a foreign country.

Launching foreign conflicts to distract from problems at home, with a war in Iran without justification or a clear strategic objective. Wasting billions of taxpayer dollars, putting our service members in harm’s way while sticking Michigan families with the bill and sky high gas prices nearly $5.00 a gallon.

Alone, each of these is a red flag. Together, they point to a clear and present danger for our democracy. I believe we now face a critical moment for our country.

And we need to meet this moment in a way that honors the sacrifice of the generations who came before us and secures conditions for success for those who will follow.

We must hold fast to who we are - a just and hard-working people, united in our love of freedom and the values that founded our nation, a 250-year-old experiment in democracy built on a free media, independent institutions, and checks and balances on power.

A government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

This is the country my grandfather, who grew up in Charlotte, Michigan, served as a young soldier in World War II while my grandmother supported their only child by renting out rooms in their Lansing home. And this is the America I love, and was proud to serve every day.

But we must lead with our values at home and abroad.

This means showing leadership in the face of aggression, whether as an assault on our democratic values, or on our democratic neighbors - not weakness or complicity.

It also means understanding that this crisis comes from the belief that the American Dream is no longer possible as a result of a cost of living emergency that makes groceries, health care, and housing unaffordable for so many.

And we need to act with urgency. There is too much at stake.

We have faced grave moments since the founding of our nation. And we have always found a way to come out stronger. If we can address this moment now, we will set the conditions for our future success.

I will never stop believing in the need for American leadership to secure our own future and offer the beacon of hope and possibility for every Michigander, every American, and so many others around the world.