Most of us are aware of the damage Donald Trump is doing to government service, freedom of expression, our universities, and democracy. And the moral decay our “national role model” is inflicting upon America with his daily lying, greed, spite, and vindictiveness.
But most of us are less aware of the grave threat Trump and his spineless minions represent to our precious children, just by broadcasting his malignant narcissism every day. It is not too early to sound the alarm.
For starters, just picture our vulnerable teens bombarded by their commander-in-chief, who rules as a greedy, lawless king—where kindness, honesty, humility, and cooperation are for “suckers and losers.” Our kids, with their online tools and savvy, know this. They see and hear it every day. The most powerful leader in the world (their “leader”) is trashing the most sacred values that have defined America since its founding.
And to what effect on our coming-of-age children? At a minimum, confusion about what behavior or character counts. More frequently, they embrace the loss of moral guardrails and behave (as in Golding’s Lord of the Flies) any way they want.
This is not a theory. I first saw it recently at a boarding school for needy children I once led. It has over 2,000 students and prides itself on building character. Just four months into Trump’s leadership model, more students are flouting rules and debasing their school’s Sacred Values.
When challenged, responses include:
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“Why should I be kind to a weak classmate?”
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“Why do I need to tell the truth?”
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“Why should I share credit with a teammate?”
The school’s Sacred Values—like Integrity and Mutual Trust—are being routinely tested.
Note: These behaviors seem to be more manifest in boys, who are more likely to challenge norms and authority (and who already have excessive learning difficulties these days). And, BTW, where were these teens during Trump’s first term? In late elementary and early middle school, where early character formation is founded.
What fate, then, for our children and their character? What is the future for the sacred values of our critical institutions?
Awareness of a real and present danger is always the first step to combating a serious threat. “This too will pass” is not a sufficient response to 8–12 years of socially induced character decay.
Such a grave challenge will fall first to our parents… and then to our teachers and coaches, who influence behavior the most. And then to our community, church, and political leaders—who, when organized, can effectively resist the moral decay.
But also to each of us who care about America’s character and the moral fiber of our children—those of us who still value kindness, honesty, and the greater common good, and do not want our young folks to become the “Greedy Me Generation.”
Johnny O’Brien is a former president of the Milton Hershey School and its first alumnus to lead the institution. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised at the school and graduated in 1961 before earning a degree from Princeton University and pursuing graduate studies at Johns Hopkins. O’Brien later founded Renaissance Leadership, a firm that coached executives at major corporations. In 2003, he returned to Hershey as its president. He is also the author of Semisweet: An Orphan’s Journey Through the School the Hersheys Built, and currently lives in Easton.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Well said Sir. One of my favorite school adages is : Manners Maketh Man. That encompasses so much lacking
that is lacking now.
Judith Gieske says
Thanks for writing this.
Beautiful and sadly, so true
Michael Pullen says
Thank you for raising these profound questions. The true measure of any organized society are the values it teaches by example.
American values are being tested. The outcome hangs in the balance. Each of us have open questions to answer: what are my values? What is my example? The answers affect the entire world you live in, inside and out.
Darrell Parsons says
Thank you!
Wilson Dean says
Superb article!
John Fischer says
Mr. Trump is a poor role model for us all, Mr. O’Brien. But take a deep breath.
Kids are watching neither the national news nor reading the New York Times. Mr. Trump is on your mind and mine, not theirs. Their role models are much closer to home….parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, religious leaders, etc., men and women whom they observe and model every day.
Craig Fuller says
A true wakeup call! Well said and eye opening. I totally agree as well with the notion that simply believing “this too shall pass” is no longer sufficient. Thanks for sharing your insight and experience!
Lisa Lynch says
So proud John. So incredibly insightful. A point of view I hadn’t thought about. The harm to future generations.
Brian J. Corden says
To the Editor:
Johnny O’Brien in his alert concerning Character Rot in young people (Talbot Spy, May 15) touches a sensitive nerve. As retired pediatricians, we share with parents a great alarm for this development in our children. O’Brien’s essay points out that the symptoms of this “illness” can be attributed to the behavior of the sitting President, not only as the head of our government, but as a premier public actor. His attitudes and actions, as self-reported on his own forum, Truth Social, contradicts daily the basic moral norms of our Society. This is no brief fever; this is a deep and pervasive sickness that, if unchecked, could easily prove fatal.
No nation is without flaws. America will certainly continue to have them. However, the wisdom of the Founding Fathers, as enshrined in our Constitution, has served as a vaccination against tyranny, and as a check on grossly uncivil behavior. As Mr. O’Brien observes though, our children, and many of their parents, in emulating the President and his cronies, are increasingly abandoning societal manners and norms.
There is no panacea for this disorder. As pediatricians for many years, it was disheartening in our work to see the physical suffering of children. Seeing them now succumbing to Character Rot is much worse. America has developed many medications for the ails of the physical body; let us hope we can soon develop and deploy a moral therapy for this disorder and rescue our children before it is too late.
Brian J. Corden M.D. and Judith P. Gieske M.D.
Easton, Maryland, 05/21/2025
Deirdre LaMotte says
Thank you for this as you have been on “the front lines” if immense social changes in the last. 20 years.
I cannot imagine a “Donald Trump” when I was young in any leadership position. He would have been
thought of as an uncouth who is not respectable to be elected to any public office.
Can you imagine attending one’s young adult’s West Point graduation and listening to the appalling things he rambled about? The MAGA hat at an academy graduation, not shaking the hands of graduates
and going on about gold digging mistresses….
I am still speechless.