Canada

Donald Trump became president on January 20 this year. Ten days later, Immigration and Customs Enforcement—ICE—was making a big show of enforcing Trump’s promise of mass deportations in the northeast, ostensibly paying tribute to a slain border patrol agent, which brought them and Kristi Noem to my little library.

Noem, head of the agency responsible for border security as well as immigration and customs (including ICE), stood on the American side of the black tape that runs through the heart of the Haskell Free Library. “USA, number one,” she proclaimed.

She stepped over the line on the floor, into Canada. “Fifty-first state,” she said. I picture her hopping across the border the same way I did when I was eight. I imagine her glee as something similarly childlike. A bully’s glee, delighting in provocation. Then she did it again. A performance.

Kristi Noem is one of the most repellent and malign politicians in the USA. Her performances are disgusting. "A bully's glee" is exactly it.