To the Editorial Team: Trump asks his supporters to pretend that he’s on the ballot in November. He asks us to believe that his ever-lengthening list of corrupt, pocket-lining actions — his pockets and those belonging to his children and his billionaire buddies — is somehow beneficial to the American people.

As discouraging as Trump’s brazenly criminal behavior is to those of us who have had our eyes wide open to the grift since the start of his first administration, I am hearing more and more stories about people who once considered themselves MAGA faithful now waking up to the truth: The emperor has no clothes.

There’s the story, for example, of a dear friend’s next-door neighbor. He was all in on Trump. Nothing could persuade him that Trump wasn’t a man of the people. But now? He tells her that he’s been swindled. All the promises Trump made? They’ve come to naught.

It was tempting of my friend to say, “I told you so.” But she didn’t. Instead, she just listened. She understood the fragility of this state of mind. We might all take a lesson from this wise action. Shaming and judging people will not win anyone over. Listening to the hurt and the fear beneath the rage that fuels MAGA just might.

In a few short weeks, those people will cast their votes. People like my dear friend’s neighbor. Perhaps they will take the Donald at his word and pretend he’s on the ballot. Perhaps, as they contemplate their choices for representation, they will reflect on his outrageous self-dealing and how he’s done nothing to make their lives better.

But just in case they don’t, the rest of us must vote like our future depends on it — because it does! And that’s not pretending. Trump and all of his grift really are on the ballot.

Charlotte Adamis

Kingston