Rolland E. Kidder

                                Jamestown Post-Journal

 Actions Speak Louder Than Words

                                                                                Dec 20, 2025

ROLLAND KIDDER

This axiom has been my belief since I can remember. It was a part of my upbringing. It was taught to me by my parents and reinforced by teachings from the Bible– “By their deeds you shall know them.”

As kids we also soon learned that there are usually more “talkers” in the world than there are “doers.” People are to be judged more by what they do than by what they say.

This translates, of course, into observing the actions vs. the words being daily issued by our President. He is always tweeting or saying things to get people stirred up, but he is also doing things that we need to observe.

For example, in the recent campaign for Mayor of the City of New York, President Trump called Mr. Mamdani a “communist” who would be a threat to civilization if elected. After the election, when Mamdani went to the White House, the President shifted instead toward schmoozing the Mayor-elect.

That action said a lot to me. It looks like the Trump administration will try to work with the new Mayor… which is a good thing. It also reminds us, that the President is also a New Yorker, has significant investments in the City and would likely prefer to get along with the Mayor of New York than continually be fighting with him.

Another recent action of our President is also of note–his pursuit of our largest trading partner led by the biggest communist leader in the world–President Xi of China. Mr. Trump recently traveled about 7,000 miles to meet Xi in South Korea. (It was a short trip for Mr. Xi, as that country is right next door to China.)

Now, we are told that President Trump will fly to China in April to meet again with Xi. All of the talk and threats about tariffs have not brought the Chinese leader to the United States. We will first meet with him on his turf. These two actions speak volumes about who is in the driver’s seat when it comes to trade and commerce between our two countries. “Actions speak louder than words.”

Sometimes words align with action. For example, with the War in Ukraine (probably more accurately described as the “War against Ukraine,”) the President has been quite consistent in word and deed in putting more pressure on Zelensky than on Putin to end the war. He has publicly admonished the President of Ukraine yet seems to defer to the Russian leader who wants things all his way.

In terms of the federal government in Washington, the President’s words have pretty much been followed by action–Musk’s chainsaw firings, a vaccine denier running the Health Department, a FOX News commentator in charge of the Defense Department… these were things that the President promised and has delivered on.

The one Department that hasn’t changed much in the nation’s capital is the Treasury Department. Here he has appointed a seasoned Wall Street banker as Secretary. The President grew up around Wall Street and, to his credit, has not appointed a fringe character to run the nation’s economy.

There is so much bluster, talk and media spin that comes from this White House, that it is sometimes better to just step back and observe. Actions have always spoken louder than words, and that is still the case.