2mo ago

Trump cosplaying

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Back in 2016, I didn't understand how an extremely wealthy heir to a billion-dollar fortune (and regardless of all his business failures) could present himself as the candidate of the little people. Today, after Trump was president and - of course - only made policy changes for the rich, I understand it even less. What is this photo-op all about? Are there seriously still people who don't understand that Trump has never represented the middle class - or even the working class? You can't be serious, dear US citizens.
- It's super frustrating but as an example - my parents are deeply conservative and supportive of Trump, and also on the lower end of "wealth" and semi-retired. It is 100% misinformation. My Dad quotes the Fox news rhetoric like it's facts, and regardless of me disproving most of the BS, he is completely brain washed. At this point Trump could run a live execution of his political opponents and the Trumpets would more or less shrug.
  
  They wouldn't just shrug. They would actively cheer it on.
- Yes. Half the country thinks Trump is for the little guy and Harris is an elitist asshole.
  Trump was born rich. Harris grew up middle class and a member of two minority groups. The problem is the democrats are shit at messaging. It’s why Walz calling republicans weird took off. Democrats don’t usually come up with sound bites like that.
  
  I sincerely don't understand how this is even possible. A lot of these people are old, do they not remember the 90's? Trump being "Smug Rich Asshole: The Character" was his whole brand, and people loved him for it because we were still drinking that "Capitalism good" kool-aid left over from the cold war.
  How is this man with a literal solid gold toilet "The Voice of the People"
  This whole nonsense makes me perfectly understand how "War of the Worlds" was mistaken for a legitimate news broadcast.
  
  Bob Altemeyer explains the phenomenon well in The Authoritarians. It’s literally how their brains are wired. The book is free here: https://theauthoritarians.org/
  
  I'm only a chapter in, but found the section on conventionalism curious. It may explain why they take such issue with being called "weird": If they value their perception of being "normal", "weird" isn't just an insult used against people you don't like, it's an attack on a principal personality trait.
  
  Yup. It attacks one of their core beliefs and makes them so damn mad.
- Before 2016 he was a celebrity people liked him as a no bullshit business owner like the middle class small business owners. As he was exposed to more media and has proven he was more of an idiot it personified him as someone like them. A moron who does what they want with 0 reflection or cares about other people.
- Probably belongs to a franchisee who donates heavily to the GOP and trump.

91 comments