Cousin Joe's Founding Fathers Would Reject Today's Divisive Politics

The author's ancestor Joseph Hewes, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, would be dismayed by the current president's actions, the columnist argues.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The author's distant cousin, Joseph Hewes, was one of the Founding Fathers who signed the Declaration of Independence. The author reflects on what Hewes and the other Founders would think about the current state of American politics, arguing they would be alarmed by the president's divisive rhetoric, crackdown on immigrants, use of tariffs, and attempts to consolidate federal control over elections.

Why it matters

The author's perspective provides insight into how the principles and values of the Founding Fathers contrast with the actions of the current president, raising questions about the disconnect between the original vision for American democracy and the modern political landscape.

The details

The author cites several examples of the president's policies and behavior that would likely alarm the Founding Fathers, including his criticism of an Olympic athlete for voicing dissent, the high rate of detentions of immigrants without criminal records, the use of tariffs that resemble "taxation without representation," the president's hints about ignoring term limits, and his attempts to exert federal control over state election processes.

  • The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776.
  • The author's distant cousin, Joseph Hewes, was 46 years old when he signed the Declaration of Independence.

The players

Joseph Hewes

The author's distant cousin, a merchant who was 46 years old when he signed the Declaration of Independence as one of the Founding Fathers.

Benjamin Franklin

One of the Founding Fathers who is credited with saying "We must all hang together, or most assuredly we will all hang separately."

Hunter Hess

An Olympic skier who told reporters in Italy that "Wearing the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the U.S."

Rob Reiner

A movie producer who directed the 1995 film "The American President."

Michael J. Fox

An actor who played the character Lewis Rothschild in "The American President."

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

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 (Instagram)

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

— A.J. MacInerney (The American President)

“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 (The American President)

What’s next

The author suggests the Founding Fathers would enjoy watching the 1995 film "The American President" to see a civics lesson about the responsibility of citizens to hold leaders accountable.

The takeaway

The author's perspective highlights the stark contrast between the principles and values of the Founding Fathers, who sought to prevent the concentration of power and ensure citizens' voices were heard, and the actions of the current president, who the author argues has taken steps to consolidate federal control and silence dissent - a disconnect that would likely alarm the nation's earliest leaders.