Is Trump Legitimate?

A lot of American Citizens have a passionate belief that President Trump is not a legitimate President. They cite reasons ranging from his losing the popular vote to Former Secretary of State Clinton to the possible intervention of Russian backed operatives in hacking DNC and Clinton operative accounts.

While the above reasons are in all likely hood true, unless there is a smoking gun that shows Trump surrogates (or worse Trump himself) actively colluded with the Russians, then he should be treated as the legitimate President of the United States and given the respect as the holder of that office.

That does not mean his statements can not be challenged in a respectful and decent way when they are inaccurate or contrary to American values.

That does not mean his actions and their subsequent effects can not be debated in a professional manner.

That is part of what it means to be American.