What Carter did in his speech was something rare in the annals of democratic government: he confronted the people with the truth—about his own failings, about the reality of the world around them, and most importantly about themselves. Even as Americans grow, for the second time, disillusioned with a Trump presidency, we have put drapes over all the mirrors. 

The American people are unhappy with Trump. They do not like this war. But they need a dose of truth right now. 

The truth is that the American people twice elected Donald Trump over more qualified Democratic women. The first time, Hillary Clinton warned explicitly that he did not have the temperament to be trusted with the nuclear codes. The second time, they overlooked an insurrection, a deadly pandemic, and a campaign full of bellicose and racist rhetoric, all despite the American economy being in the midst of one of the best post-Covid recoveries in the world. — Alan Elrod

I always believed that Carter was right. It’s nice to see him vindicated in print; I only wish he had witnessed this exoneration during his lifetime.

But Carter was faith-driven, and not in the phony way White Nationalists claim to be. To the extent that anyone can run for president without being a massively narcissistic egotist, Carter was free of the veils that egotism erects between an observer and their objective reality.

So if Carter’s ghost still roams this planet, he isn’t kicking his heels together at seeing himself praised at last. Whether Americans were ready to hear his message at the time or not, Carter did the right thing. His reward in life may have been ridicule and scorn, but he seemed remarkably untroubled by the personal aspects of this rejection by the American people—and continued to dedicate his life to helping others.

Had we followed his lead and reelected him, the planet would be in better shape, and clean energy, creating innovation and employment, would power our lives. Then again, had we been capable of following Carter’s lead, we wouldn’t have elected Donald Trump twice, and that is the point author Elrod makes sure we understand:

If we can’t rediscover a sense of the simultaneously awe-inspiring and intimate task of self-government, we will remain the country that re-elected Donald Trump. And we will continue to reap the consequences.

On that note, I invite you to read After a Dark Week, Americans Should Turn to Jimmy Carter’s Malaise Speech.