IMHO

Benedict Arnold (January 14, 1741– June 14, 1801) was an American-born British military officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. He fought with distinction for the American Continental Army and rose to the rank of major general before defecting to the British in 1780. General George Washington had given him his fullest trust and had placed him in command of West Point in New York. Arnold was planning to surrender the fort to British forces, but the plot was discovered in September 1780, whereupon he fled to the British lines. In the later part of the war, Arnold was commissioned as a brigadier general in the British Army and placed in command of the American Legion. He led British forces in battle against the army which he had once commanded, and his name became synonymous with treason and betrayal of the United States.^--Wiki

 

 ^{Donald J. Trump}

In political discourse, critics, political opponents, and some legal scholars use the term rhetorically to describe actions they believe subverted the Constitution, undermined national security, or placed personal interests over allegiance to the nation.

The main arguments raised by those who describe Donald Trump in these terms fall into several key areas:

1. Events Surrounding January 6 and the 2020 Election

Critics argue that efforts to overturn a certified democratic election constituted a fundamental betrayal of his oath to preserve, protect, and defend the U.S. Constitution. Specific points often cited include:

• Subverting the Peaceful Transfer of Power: Attempting to block Congress's certification of electoral votes.

• Pressuring Election Officials: Pressuring state officials and the Department of Justice to alter or delay election results.

• Incitement of the Capitol Attack: Encouraging supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol, which led to the January 6 attack, an event described by critics and political opponents as an insurrection.

2. Handling of Classified Documents

Following his first presidency, Trump was indicted under the Espionage Act for retaining sensitive government documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate and allegedly obstructing efforts to retrieve them.

• National Security Risks: Opponents argue that holding highly classified national defense materials in unsecured locations exposed critical state secrets to potential foreign access.

• Alleged Disclosures: Reports of sharing sensitive intelligence with unauthorized individuals raised concerns over disregard for national security protocols.

3. Stance on Foreign Intelligence and Adversaries

Throughout his political career, critics argued that Trump sided with foreign autocrats over U.S. interests and national intelligence agencies:

The 2018 Helsinki Summit: Publicly siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin over U.S. intelligence agency conclusions regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election.

• Rhetoric on Alliances: Repeated criticism of traditional democratic alliances, such as NATO, alongside praised relationships with authoritarian leaders (e.g., in Russia, Hungary, and North Korea).

4. The 2019 Ukraine Pressures (First Impeachment)

Trump’s first impeachment stemmed from allegations that he withheld congressionally mandated military aid to Ukraine while asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate a political rival, Joe Biden. Critics argued this leveraged U.S. foreign policy and national security assets for personal political gain.