Cousin Joe's Founding Fathers Would Rebuke Today's President

The author reflects on how the Founding Fathers would view the current U.S. president's actions and policies.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The author, whose ancestor Joseph Hewes was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, reflects on how the Founding Fathers would view the current U.S. president's actions and policies. The author argues the Founders would be alarmed by the president's rhetoric, crackdown on immigrants, use of tariffs, disregard for term limits, and attempts to control federal elections - all of which the author sees as contradicting the Founders' principles of limiting government power and protecting citizens' rights.

Why it matters

This commentary provides insight into how the ideals and values of the Founding Fathers are being tested and challenged by the actions of the current U.S. president. It raises important questions about the role of government, the rights of citizens, and the balance of power that the Founders sought to establish.

The details

The author reflects on how their ancestor, Joseph Hewes, was a merchant who signed the Declaration of Independence at age 46. The author notes that the Founders sought to prevent a concentration of power in a monarch, and wonders how Hewes and the other Founders would view the current president's rhetoric, policies, and actions. The author cites specific examples, such as the president's criticism of an Olympic skier who expressed dissent, the president's crackdown on immigrants, the use of tariffs, the president's hints about not respecting term limits, and the president's attempts to take control of federal elections in certain states.

  • In 1776, Joseph Hewes signed the Declaration of Independence at the age of 46.
  • Last week, Olympic skier Hunter Hess told reporters in Italy that 'There's obviously a lot going on that I'm not the biggest fan of. Wearing the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the U.S.'

The players

Joseph Hewes

The author's distant cousin, a merchant who signed the Declaration of Independence at the age of 46.

Hunter Hess

An Olympic skier who expressed dissent about the current state of affairs in the U.S.

The President

The current president of the United States, whose actions and policies the author believes would alarm the Founding Fathers.

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What they’re saying

“There's obviously a lot going on that I'm not the biggest fan of. Wearing the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the U.S.”

— Hunter Hess, Olympic skier (Reported by media in Italy)

“The president doesn't answer to you, Lewis!”

— A.J. MacInerney, Character in the film 'The American President' (The American President (1995 film)

“Oh, yes, he does. I'm a citizen, and in this country, it is not only permissible to question our leaders, it's our responsibility.”

— Lewis Rothschild, Character in the film 'The American President' (The American President (1995 film)

What’s next

The author suggests the Founding Fathers would enjoy watching the 1995 film 'The American President' and its civics lesson about the responsibility of citizens to question their leaders.

The takeaway

This commentary highlights the tension between the Founding Fathers' principles of limited government and citizen oversight, and the current president's actions that the author believes contradict those ideals. It raises important questions about the role of government, the rights of citizens, and the balance of power in modern America.