THE ELUSIVE CHARM OF DONALD TRUMP? He is the Mirror Image of His Base

Base: adj.   a. lacking or indicating the lack of higher qualities of mind or spirit (Merriam-Webster)

What is the secret of Trump’s charm for his base supporters?  How did he ever become the king of the GOP and ascend to the presidency?  Why is he still at play in American politics?

These are questions that many Americans have posed--questions that haven’t been answered with any precision.

Foreign observers of American politics have their opinions.  They suggest that Trump’s political ascendance was a reflection of America’s fascination with celebrity and wealth.  Americans adore their celebrities, whether actors, musicians or reality stars.  Americans adore the rich whether a Tech or Tesla millionaire/billionaire.  And Americans endow celebrities and the rich with an aura of awe that often defies logic.

How else to explain why actors, wrestlers, stand-up comedians and other celebrities ascend to governor’s houses and even the White House.  How else to explain why self-made or daddy-made millionaires and billionaires are given instant credibility as political candidates no matter their lack of political experience, skill or temperament?  Americans elect celebrities and the rich to political office no matter how unfit they are for the task.

Another possibility.  Some of my friends think Trump’s “charm” is a superficial and visceral response to his in-your-face persona.  It’s like the toddler in the grocery store who throws a tantrum and begins shouting:  “Fuck, Fuck, Fuck.”  Instead of being aghast, onlookers laugh, point and think it’s cute.  Trump is the toddler who yells “Fuck” and his supporters point, laugh and think it’s cute.

Trump’s base offers an array of inane rationales for their allegiance.

He is a patriot who will make America great again, they chant.  Yes, this draft dodging, war-hero-defaming man who has expressed disdain for those foolish enough to serve our country in uniform, is a patriot?  A rich, entitled man who has always placed self-interest before America’s interests, is a patriot?  A man who wraps himself in an American flag even as he caters to the world’s democracy-averse, mass murdering dictators, is a patriot?

Equally laughable is their assertion that Trump is a man of God, a man of faith.  A man who has lived a morally bereft life is a man of faith?  A man who cannot intelligibly quote scripture and for whom the bible is nothing more than a photo-op, or a money-making prop, is a man of faith?  A man who makes a mockery of WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) sentiments by almost always doing the opposite of what Jesus would do, is a man of faith?

Finally, they shout, Trump is “one of us.”  Trump would be offended if anyone seriously suggested that he is one of you.  He considers himself superior to you in every way—intellect, social standing, inherent worth.    His life of privilege, self-interest and self-indulgence in no way resembles the life of the average Trump supporter.  Your only value to Trump is as a vote. 

 But, in fact, I think Trump is one of you.

You Trump supporters who carry torches and chant “Jews will not replace us?”    Trump thinks you are fine people and he is one of you. 

Those of you whose disdain for the American constitution and American institutions allows you to trash the Halls of Congress, attack law enforcement and attempt to halt legitimate electoral processes?  Trump empathizes with you and he is one of you. 

Those of you who think that foreign countries with non-white populations are “s—t holes” whose migrants are rapists, thieves and murderers?  Trump spews such vitriol, whether or not he really believes it, and he is one of you.

Those of you who feel that American tax laws, criminal laws and social conventions don’t apply to you?   Trump flaunts tax and sexual misconduct laws, judicial rules and social conventions and he is one of you.

Those of you who relegate women to subordinates and who feel God has endowed you with  the right to determine what to do with women’s bodies?  Trump treats women’s bodies as his playgrounds and their fates as his to decide, and he is one of you.

So the mystery of Trump’s “charm” for his base is really not a mystery at all.  Trump is, in all his bloated, hateful glory, you.  You look at Trump and you see your mirror image. 

Yes, you are Trump, and he is you.

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