Sometimes it feels like Donald Trump’s whole political career is an act, as if trying to prove his acting prowess after struggling in TV / movies. So much of what he does seems like over the top political satire, pulling bits from dystopians, dictators, authoritarians, oligarchy, mafia, corrupt officials, immoral business men, buffoons, and any other sort of powerful villain in that broad genre. He just keeps pushing at the edges of what he does. He was a Democrat for longer than not, and once said he’d run as a Republican because they’re idiots. Part of me hopes one day he’ll say “Gotcha”. Whatever the case, he does not seem to care how much damage he does along the way and will gladly collect as much money as he can along the way.
Even before his first election, it felt like an over the top act. Like he wanted to push people toward Clinton. When he won, he just had to keep pushing, perhaps to get people to see or to try to push apathy to action. And of course to increase his power, image, and wealth.
I thought maybe he jumped the shark several times along the way. Like selling gold Trump bibles. I’m not religious in a normal sense, but I would have trouble not seeing Jesus flipping the e-commerce equivalent of tables over that. Also J6, partial government control of private companies, tariffs, Iran war, name on money, &c. And he’s had no shortage of gaffs and attacks or digs on subsets of his constituencies. Doing things or pardoning people who’ve done things he’s previously railed against. Choosing family, donors, and other inexperienced people to fill roles. National guard and ICE with a strong presence on the streets. Attempts to silence or alter news stories and other critical speech. But people continued with him, so he pushes it ever further.
Hopefully the good people with some power can hold this from going too much further. If it is an act, this quote seems relevant:
We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.