Trump is constantly on my mind, and while waiting for my haircut, I read an opinion piece in the Washington Post that resonated strongly. It’s titled, “The media’s worst lapse: Refusing to identify Trump as a cult leader.” By Jennifer Rubin. I realize that many of you may not subscribe to the Post, so here is a quote from it.
“Instead of reporting Trump’s wild assertions as legitimate arguments, media outlets should explain how Trump rallies are designed to instill anger and cultivate his hold on people who believe whatever hooey he spouts. How different are these events from what we see in grainy images of European fascist rallies in the 1930s? (When Trump apologists insist that tens of millions of people cannot be part of a cult, it’s critical to remember mass fascist movements that swept entire populations.) The appeals to emotion, the specter of a malicious enemy, the fear of societal decline, the fascination with violence and the elation just to be in the presence of the leader are telltale signs of frenetic fascist gatherings. Trump’s language (“poisoning the blood”) even mimics Hitler’s calls for racial purity.
She goes on, “Even as Trump shows his authoritarian colors and his rants become angrier, more unhinged and more incoherent, his followers still meekly accept inane assertions (e.g., convicted Jan. 6, 2021, rioters are “hostages,” magnets dissolve in water, wind turbines drive whales insane). More of the media should be covering this phenomenon as it would any right-wing authoritarian movement in a foreign country.”
Rubin quotes historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat from Substack, “Authoritarian, not democratic dynamics, hold the key to Trump’s behavior as a candidate now and in the future. The main goals of his campaign events are not to advance policy proposals but rather to prop up his personality cult, circulate his lies, and emotionally retrain Americans to see violence as positive and even patriotic.”
I encourage you to read it if you can.
Moving around the city without my iPad this afternoon, I drew the above on my iPhone. I feel this is a very important point and one that needs to be amplified. Trump is not a normal politician and should not be treated that way.
Thanks for being here, have a good Friday night! See you tomorrow.
In the beginning of this political nightmare, I was angered by the covers of the New Yorker that persisted in images that portrayed Trump as a comedic figure. As you point out today, there is and never has been anything comedic about him. He is an evil person who uses his charisma to delude and encourage people to believe in lies and uses fear to promote his own agenda. Your message is an important one. He's different from the politicians we've known. The media could change the perception by following your idea. He's not a clown, he's evil personified.
Absolutely correct. They’ve sipped the Koolaid and are addicted to it now.
We can’t rest on the insanity we are watching. Your voice is so important Liza and I’m thankful for you.