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So, Donald Trump, the brash celebrity billionaire and star of TV’s ‘The Apprentice’ has dramatically announced a bid for the Republican nomination for President of the United States. Cue hysteria. Cue mob humour. Cue intellectual laziness.
I understand how conventional it is to laugh at Trump; at his braggadocio, his squirrelly hair and material emphasis. He is clearly someone who enjoys the media spotlight and who often speaks with the media in mind. But away from the quirks in his character, it cannot be denied that Trump, via his achievements and lived philosophy, also personifies America at its most unapologetic, creative, tough-minded and independent.
He is a throw-back in that regard; the living relic of an era – fast being lost – in which the United States was the country to imitate if you wanted your own to succeed. It was an era of unipolar domination, whether on the economic, cultural or military plain. It was the era in which most of the skyscrapers you see on the dazzling Manhattan skyline were constructed, when the bridges were built (on budget and on time), and when the US army considered concepts like ‘retreat’ and ‘failure’ to be eccentricities unique to Europe.
I believe this American spirit still survives, in pockets and enclaves, but the condition of America in general is increasingly tenuous. Toxic issues are beginning to develop in the marrow of American life; issues that if left without treatment, could prove lethal to its long-term prospects.
Trump announced his bid for presidency this week with a resounding rally held in his Manhattan skyscraper ‘Trump Tower’. The fallout would last for days. Here are some of the more ‘provocative’ statements emphasised by the press:
On immigration – “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.”
On jobs – “Our real unemployment is anywhere from 18 to 20 percent. Don’t believe the 5.6. Don’t believe it… That’s right. A lot of people… can’t get jobs. They can’t get jobs, because there are no jobs, because China has our jobs and Mexico has our jobs. They all have jobs.”
On health-care reform – “We have a disaster called the big lie: Obamacare… Yesterday, it came out that costs are going for people up 29, 39, 49, and even 55 percent, and deductibles are through the roof. You have to be hit by a tractor, literally, a tractor, to use it, because the deductibles are so high, it’s virtually useless. It’s virtually useless. It is a disaster.”
Shortly after these comments were made, left-leaning cable channels set about presenting them as stand-alone bigotries, considerably more extreme and stupid seeming than in their original context. The television network NBC responded quickly by severing all ties with Trump, accompanied by the retail giant Macy’s, hair-product brand Farouk Systems, and the Latino TV networks Univsion, Televisa and Ora TV.
I won’t deny that the comment about Mexican rapists was lazy and ill-advised. There doesn’t seem to be a problem with sexual violence in Mexican communities more serious than in others. But outside of these unfortunate snippets (incidentally, I don’t share the Republican anxiety over subsidised health-care either), I found the speech rather inspiring.
Trump offered his audience an honest, easy to understand diagnosis of real and important maladies. His remarks about the pathetic failings of the Iraqi ‘military’ were dead on the nail. His comments about China’s cynical devaluation of its currency were timely and brave. His stated willingness to protect Israel should comfort the hearts of besieged democrats around the world.
But more than anything, it was Trump’s call for a ‘cheer-leading’ President who can resurrect the attitude of exceptionalism that truly impressed me. As I have written perhaps too many times before, positivity and the “Let’s Win!” spirit is not only useful on the football field or basketball court. It is the same attitude that destroyed the Empire of Japan and liquidised Iraqi divisions in Kuwait. It is the attitude that built the Hoover Dam, and which drives the world economy.
Trump understands this. He understands the psychological basis of American strength, that this strength is not derived from virtue alone, but from arrogance, determination and unilateralism too.
Despite my enthusiasm, I am soberly aware that a Trump administration is as unlikely Caitlyn Jenner birthing triplets. Impossible, of course, but perhaps not wholly undesirable.
D, LDN.
Defend the Modern World 
I actually like Trump. The problem with the anti-privileged-white-male movement (what used to be called “the man” back in the sixties) that seems to be going on globally, is that if the USA loses its rich people, only foreigners (and worse – our enemies) will remain rich. We don’t need wealthy enemies… This has always been the greatest danger, and biggest mistake, of a nation in killing off its golden goose, and fattening up its adversaries, as well (ie, Saudi oil sheiks).
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I completely agree. People like Trump built the West. We need people with ambition, ego and drive. No country got rich by kind sentiments alone.
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“It is the same attitude that destroyed the Empire of Japan…”
True. But, the same ‘we are invincible’ attitude of the Japanese, destroyed the Japanese Empire by making them take stupid risks and taking on the U.S. In WW2.
There is a thin line between an ‘can-do’ attitude & stupidly dangerous overconfidence. It was this overconfidence that led to the defeat of America in ‘cannot-win’ & ‘no-clear-objective’ wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan & Iraq. I hope America learns a lesson.
Though a ‘can-do’ attitude is admirable in can-be-done situations where hard work, will power & determination is needed, it’s dangerous in other situations where reflection, pause & doubt is critical. I hope America learns the difference.
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Hubris is certainly dangerous. But a can-do attitude based on a sensible evaluation of the situation is very important. In Europe, we know we can defeat ISIS, but we don’t have the drive.
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Personally, I feel that the coming demographic threat to Europe is more of a threat than the IS. As long as the enablers of Islamism: The Leftists control the media and political discourse, as long as words like ‘Multiculturalism’ ‘Diversity’ continue to be use by the mainstream media, as long as slurs like ‘Racist’ & ‘Bigot’ ‘Islamophobe’ continue to be used against people who warm of the (real) danger to Western society, this coming demographic threat will never be handled until it is too late.
So, for me, the Leftists are much more dangerous than ISIS. Some of the ideologies of the ISIS, like attracting radicals to their Caliphate(thus getting rid of radicals from the soil of Western nations), the non-recognition of other Arab & Muslim nation states, which could potentially throw the Muslim world into turmoil and instability, the revival and open flaunting of Islamic concepts of Jaziya and Slavery, which many Islamists want to kept hidden until the time is right (as a deceptive move to fool the non-Muslims), make many Muslims question the very ‘perfection’ of their ideology & religion and the same time alerting the non-Muslim populations initially and the media & politicians later to the danger. The Leftists try and tried hard to help in this deception, but the IS has ripped the veil and are demonstrating to the world the ‘Shape of things to come’ as HG wells would have put it.
I’m not so concerned about the IS, I’m more concerned about the leftist ideology, which is weakening Europe from within.
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I know your position on this, and I agree that eventually the IS has to be defeated militarily, but, I would like prioritize our resources and manpower to defend the Western nation states and not defend the bloated ‘Kings’ and ‘Leaders’ of the Middle-East. For too long, Western manpower and resources have protected these plutocrats, with only hate & contempt being offered in return. The IS in more of an ideological and military threat to them and less to us.
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There was an ISIS-linked attack thwarted in London only the other day.
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Like you yourself mentioned in your past articles, terrorism only affects a minuscule percentage of the population., The real threat is cultural and that is bought about by demographics.
These attacks though terrible to the people who are affected, actually strengthen the resolve of the population and also alerts then to the real threat of demographic change.
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The beheading in France was also ISIS.
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At the end of the day, its never a wise move to say that Mexicans are rapists and criminals in one’s presidential announcement, especially when they are such a big legal demographic within the USA. Full stop. Those comments are not going to go away, in effect they ended his hopes for a real chance on the day he announced.
I understand your admiration for Trump, as an indefatigable entrepreneur, and one who speaks his mind, however Trump has alienated far too many – there are better heroes to laud in the American right.
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He phrased it badly but his point was that Mexico would never allow bright, law-abiding citizens to leave the country illegally. Mexico instead dumps the worst problem cases onto America.
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Some of which are presumably rapists, gangsters, narco-terrorists etc…
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True, but after near 2 full terms so far of this eye-pokey administration, some of us are enjoying the loose change being thrown back in return. Let’s just hope we don’t wind up with someone equally vengeful, no matter how righteously presented, to replace the current great, big pen & phone seat-heater in DC. Trump has a sense of humor, and he sure will give everyone a run for their money, even if it’s all mouth. Hitler did not, for example, and was very unfortunately taken seriously by mistake. Trump is the court jester who pays his way to the thrown, not to overtake it, but to expose it. Maybe we need him for that?
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Google: Rape trees
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Wow. Interesting (and horrifying).
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