Donald Trump’s extraordinary affection
What is the subject of Donald Trump’s discussions when he mentions love? He is known for his association with a politics of resentment and retaliation that has sometimes led to violence, most notably in the Capitol attack on January 6th, 2021. Despite this, no other president or presidential candidate has been as closely linked to expressions of love.
In his speeches and emails, Mr. Trump consistently expresses his affection for his supporters. Over the years, he has declared his love for “the Hispanics,” “the Saudis,” “the poorly educated,” and officers of the Central Intelligence Agency. His heart often seems to have reasons that defy logic. Like Titania, he has fallen for the most unlikely of individuals (“We fell in love,” he exclaimed about North Korea’s supreme leader, Kim Jong Un). Like Rihanna, he has found love in seemingly hopeless places, including the Soviet Union (“you could see it was a country where there was a lot of love”) and even in the crowd on January 6th (“There was a lot of love out there. There was tremendous love”).
By definition, presidents are not ordinary people. But even by their extraordinary standards, Mr. Trump is an unusual figure. His critics like to point out that he had a privileged upbringing as the son of a millionaire real estate developer. However, they may not give him enough credit for how he willed himself into becoming a billionaire, a flamboyant celebrity, a reality television star, and then the president through daring, determination, and a certain ethical flexibility. His unwavering belief in this vision of himself overwhelmed the skeptics of his candidacy eight years ago, convinced most Republicans that he did not lose in 2020, and may now persuade Americans to return him to the White House.
2024-02-13 14:43:18
Article from www.economist.com