Open letter to Montana Congressional delegation

by Cathy Scholtens, Stevensville

I am a Montanan. I am a veteran. And I am done watching your silence masquerade as leadership.

I am asking you to join the Republicans who have stood up against the chaos, recklessness, and authoritarian drift caused by Donald Trump and his allies.

NATO is in danger — and when NATO is in danger, the world is in danger. Trump has openly threatened a NATO ally. That is not politics. That is a dangerous precedent that puts American troops and global stability at risk.

Montanans serve. We fight alongside allies. NATO is not an abstraction here — it is one of the reasons American service members are not standing alone in wider wars. As a veteran, I swore an oath to the Constitution, not to a man.

Right now, the United States is being seen around the world as dangerous, disrespectful, and unhinged. That damage is real.

At home, ICE is running rampant in the streets. An innocent woman is dead. Civil liberties and due process are being stripped away. These actions are not about “going after the bad guys.” They are about targeting people — based on skin color, last names, and fear. Anyone paying attention knows this. Due process is not on ICE’s “to do” list. Fear, payback and intimidation in Democratic states is Trump’s game.

Abroad, the hypocrisy is staggering. Trump screams about “drugs” and “bad leaders,” having our military blow up boats in international waters, while granting pardons to convicted drug traffickers who were heads of state. He spreads doctored images, lies about events caught on video, invents statistics, and destabilizes international relationships with reckless behavior.

You know this. You are not ignorant. You are choosing silence.

And everyone knows why: fear of Trump’s retaliation—political backlash, primary challenges, and the loss of campaign funding. You see loyalty to Trump as essential for your political survival, even if it means prioritizing your career over what is right.

Leadership is not about protecting your seat. It is about responsibility — to the Constitution, to the people, and to the commitments that keep the world from imploding.

Montanans respect backbone. Montanans understand service. We fight alongside allies. We bury our dead under flags. We uphold the constitution of the United States of America. You also swore an oath to the Constitution. Are you going to uphold that oath?

This is the moment to choose. Join the Republican pushback. Do it publicly. Do it clearly.

Stand for NATO, for the rule of law, and for basic human decency — even if it costs you Trump’s approval and backing.

That is what real Montana leadership looks like.

History is watching. So are we.