Joe Biden dropping out of the presidential race helped, but Trump’s dream of returning triumphantly to the White House in 2025 was already in trouble a year ago. The problem is not just the criminal indictments and gaffes at rallies. It is something else. The Trump act, the persona he created to run for president, has grown old. Like the characters on a sitcom that runs too long, Trump is no longer interesting.
Today even Trump’s most ardent supporters know what he is going to do next. That is why some attendees at his Wilkes-Barre rally last Saturday walked out while Trump was still speaking. They had heard it before. Maybe they expected something new. They didn’t get it.
The Trump Show has never been of interest to many voters. Some Democrats claim they never watch any Trump speeches, avoid reading anything about his proposals, and even his legal problems because, as they put it, “he is evil.” If more Democrats sampled what Trump is offering today, the result would be even more urgent efforts to defeat him. The more you know about Trump, the more obvious it is that he must be defeated.
What are the mainstays of the Trump Show that are turning off voters, including Republicans?
The name-calling. In Wilkes-Barre, Trump called Kamala Harris “a Communist” for proposing price controls. In other recent speeches, she was credited with inflation, opening the border, and called an idiot. Trump also suggests she stole the Democratic presidential nomination from Joe Biden.
In one of the more ridiculous, weird things Trump said at the Pennsylvania rally, Trump said he was better looking than Harris. (That must have hurt Harris’ feelings.)
Trump is recycling names. “Crooked” and “Crazy” are two mainstays. “Crazy” has been applied to Nancy Pelosi, Bernie Sanders, Harris, and others. Other favorites include “corrupt,” “fake,” and “lunatic.” And the list goes on and is tiresome.
Trump admits the name-calling is essential to destroying “the brand” of his opponents. Under the skillful hand of Kellyanne Conway in 2016, the ploy worked. Hillary Clinton’s favorability ratings plummeted.
Saying America is “broken.” The spiel, of course, is that Trump is the only person who can fix it. But people are tired of hearing that America is broken. People I talk to who comment on Trump’s claim about whether a 78-year-old man has time to fix it. According to Trump, the America that is broken includes the FBI, the Justice Department, border security, trade with China, America’s involvement/role in wars in Ukraine and Gaza, American cities, the military, the media, and more. Enough already.
Lying. Trump lies about everything, even when the lies make him look ridiculous. He is still lying about the 2020 election and his January 6, 2021, insurrection. Some Republicans might find Trump’s lying amusing, but most of us don’t.
Greed. Last week the Federal Election Commission released Trump’s required financial disclosures. The information got less media coverage than I expected. Trump earned hundreds of thousands of dollars from the sale of $60 bibles, non-fungible tokens (NFTs depicting himself as a superhero), and other Trump-branded merchandise, most of it bought by MAGA supporters. Trump is proving that it is more lucrative to run for president than to serve in office. (I wonder how Trump’s defeat in November will impact future sales or the value of these “collectibles.”)
Age-related decline. Why does Trump look frail these days? Is it Post-Traumatic Stress caused by the assassination attempt against him? Is it dementia? Is it mental illness? I will leave it to the professionals to diagnose Trump, but the ex-president is not looking chipper these days. He looks like an old man. He is not OK.
A couple of years ago, friends persuaded me to attend a performance by a long-retired TV sitcom actor, a comedian once heralded as “brilliant.” The actor gave the performance his best, but the jokes were old, the spark was gone, and the audience left saddened and asking why the actor chose to embarrass himself.
Trump is now an “old actor” without new material. Unfortunately, he is not pandering for a few bucks, but seeking a return to political power. That is why the current season of the Trump Show is not much-watch TV.
The spell has been broken. But the danger of Trump and Trumpism remains. Trump can still win in November. Only voters can stop him.
J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant. He writes on politics, government, and, too infrequently, other subjects.
Bob Moores says
John, agree 100%, including the threat still extant.
Trump appeals to bigots, misogynists, white nationalists, and those who find it difficult to adapt to new possibilities.
He appeals to those who prefer to be led and lied to by an authoritarian who tells them what they want to hear.
Trump appeals to our darkest instincts, not our better angels.
However, he is still relevant to those “under the influence” of the cult leader, and must be defeated by our votes in November. Only then can the spell he has cast on his GOP disciples, and threat he poses to our democratic system, be removed once and for all.
Keep those articles coming! They give me hope (as do Kamala and Tim!)
Bill Anderson says
Says Mr. Dean, “According to Trump, the America that is broken includes the FBI, the Justice Department, border security, trade with China, America’s involvement/role in wars in Ukraine and Gaza, American cities, the military, the media, and more.”
Mr. Dean, please explain, with specificity, exactly which of the Trump statements are not true. Any casual observer of politics, government at its highest levels, and miliary activities would almost certainly accept Mr. Trump’s vision as accurate. Only those who do not wish to see or accept the truth would disagree.
John Dean says
I guess I am one of those “who do not wish to see or accept the truth.” A book could be written to explain, “with specificity,” which of Trump’s statements on the FBI, the Justice Department, border security, trade with China, and America’s involvement/role in wars in Ukraine and Gaza, American cities, the military, and more” are untrue.
I think I know why Trump does not like the FBI and Justice Department. I wouldn’t either if I were Trump. Fortunately, I haven’t committed any felonies that are being investigated by the FBI or prosecuted by the Justice Department.
All of that being said, thank you for reading the piece.
Chris Gordon says
Early in Bill Clinton’s speech last night he said he was proud to be a Democrat. I wonder how many Republicans can say that about their candidate, even those who intend to vote for him.
Gren Whitman says
Joe Biden’s breakdown on June 27 was an unexpected shock.
Convicted felon and sex offender Donald Trump is now the ancient, and it shows. Daily.
Welcomed by millions — with shining armor and fighting spirit — Kamala Harris is the Dems’ Joan of Arc.
VP candidates Tim Walz and JD Vance are as they present themselves.
With Trump’s cult estimated at 40% of voters, Harris has her mark to reach, and exceed.
Because of (1) the SCOTUS’s Dobbs decision, that’s enlisted more than half the U.S. population in this election, (2) Himself’s toxic incompetence, (3) his veep choice, (4) and the GOP’s confusion, Harris will triumph.
Patty Heaps says
Oh for Pete’s sake! Breakdown? The word would be exposed and if you didn’t anticipate it then you weren’t paying attention. The only breakdown would be Joe’s drug cocktail. Some surmise that he was put out there to be exposed so Kamala could be installed. Can’t use “Donald Trump will end democracy” when the democrats literally kicked Biden to the curb and installed a nominee that never received a vote from the American people and 6 weeks ago was named Worst VP ever. That’s your idea of a democratic process?