To the Editor:

Re “The President Turns on His Own” (editorial, Aug. 24):

President Trump not only risks his agenda by lambasting Republican senators but also continues to prove that he is not the great negotiator he constantly boasts that he is.

A great negotiator does not bully his opponents, as Mr. Trump tried to do with senators over the health care bill. A great negotiator does not threaten to shut down the government to get Congress to pay for his wall (after he failed to get Mexico to pay for it — another negotiation fiasco). A great negotiator doesn’t hurl insults or threats that he wouldn’t follow through on, like a nuclear war with North Korea (or would he actually be willing to push that button?).

So let’s burst Mr. Trump’s self-deluded bubble and remind him that bullying and threats, insults and self-congratulation, do not great negotiations achieve — as is clear from his lack of legislative victories. Gee, isn’t he tired from all this losing?

JAMES S. BERKMAN, BOSTON

To the Editor:

Re “Trump’s Shutdown Threat Risks Splitting His Party” (front page, Aug. 24):

President Trump now threatens to shut down the government if Congress does not fund a wall on the southern border of the United States. The demanded funding this year alone is $1.6 billion, and $3.6 billion over the next two fiscal years.